Atovaquone
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Systematic (IUPAC) name | |
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trans-2-[4-(4-chlorophenyl)cyclohexyl]-3-hydroxy-1,4-naphthalenedione
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Clinical data | |
Trade names | Mepron |
AHFS/Drugs.com | monograph |
MedlinePlus | a693003 |
Legal status | |
Routes of administration |
oral only |
Pharmacokinetic data | |
Biological half-life | 2.2 to 3.2 days |
Identifiers | |
CAS Number | 95233-18-4 ![]() |
ATC code | P01AX06 (WHO) |
PubChem | CID: 74989 |
DrugBank | DB01117 ![]() |
ChemSpider | 10482034 ![]() |
UNII | Y883P1Z2LT ![]() |
KEGG | D00236 ![]() |
ChEBI | CHEBI:575568 ![]() |
ChEMBL | CHEMBL1450 ![]() |
Chemical data | |
Formula | C22H19ClO3 |
Molecular mass | 366.837 g/mol |
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Atovaquone (alternative spelling: atavaquone) is a chemical compound that belongs to the class of naphthoquinones. Atovaquone is a hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone, an analog of ubiquinone, with antipneumocystic activity. It is manufactured in the US in the liquid form, or oral suspension, under the brand name Mepron.[1]
Contents
Uses
Atovaquone is a medication used to treat or prevent:
- For pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP),[2][3] it is used in mild cases, although it is not approved for treatment of severe cases.
- For toxoplasmosis,[4] the medication has antiparasitic and therapeutic effects.
- For malaria, it is one of the two components (along with proguanil) in the drug Malarone. Malarone has fewer side effects and is more expensive than mefloquine.[5] Resistance has been observed.[6]
- For babesia, it is often used in conjunction with oral azithromycin.[7]
Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX, Bactrim) is generally considered first-line therapy for PCP or toxoplasmosis. However, atovaquone may be used in patients who cannot tolerate, or are allergic to, sulfonamide medications such as TMP-SMX. In addition, atovaquone has the advantage of not causing myelosuppression, which is an important issue in patients who have undergone bone marrow transplantation.
Malaria
Atovaquone, as a combination preparation with proguanil, has been commercially available from GlaxoSmithKline since 2000 as Malarone for the treatment and prevention of malaria.
References
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External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Atovaquone. |
- Molecular Basis for Atovaquone Resistance in Pneumocystis jirovecii
- Atovaquone (Meprone)
- British National Formulary
- ↑ Mepron
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- ↑ Malarone: New Malaria Medication With Fewer Side-effects
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