Arakoda 100 mg tablet

Generic name:
Tafenoquine - oral

Pronunciation
(ta-FEN-oh-kwin)

Brand name(s)
Arakoda

This medication is used to prevent malaria. It works by stopping the growth of the parasite that causes malaria.

Read the Medication Guide provided by your pharmacist before you start taking tafenoquine and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Take this medication by mouth with food as directed by your doctor. The manufacturer directs to swallow this medication whole, and to not break, crush, or chew the tablet before taking it. However, many similar drugs (immediate-release tablets) can be split, crushed, or chewed. Follow your doctor's directions on how to take this medication.

Take this medication starting 3 days before you travel to an area with malaria, usually once daily for 3 days. While you are in the malarious area, take this medication usually once each week, starting 7 days after the last daily dose you took. After you leave the malarious area, take the last dose of this medication 7 days after the last dose you took while you were in the malarious area.

For the best effect, take this medication at evenly spaced times. To help you remember, take this medication at the same time every day when you take it daily, and on the same day of the week when you take it weekly.

It is important that you do not miss any doses. See the Missed Dose section for more information.

Continue to take this medication until the full prescribed amount is finished. Stopping the medication too early may result in loss of protection against getting malaria.

No medication is completely effective in preventing malaria. Get medical help right away if you develop symptoms of malaria (such as fever, chills, headache, other flu-like symptoms). Malaria is best treated when treatment is started early.

Tafenoquine stays in your body a long time, so side effects may be delayed or last longer than expected.

Trouble sleeping, anxiety, or nightmares may occur. If any of these effects last more than 3 days or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

Remember that this medication has been prescribed because your doctor has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.

Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects, including:

• eye/vision problems

Get medical help right away if you have any very serious side effects, including:

• mental/mood changes (such as hallucinations, unusual thoughts/behavior, confusion)
• unusual tiredness
• rapid breathing
• pale skin
• shortness of breath
• fast heartbeat
• dizziness/lightheadedness
• bluish lips or skin
• headache that lasts or is severe
• yellowing eyes/skin
• dark urine

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including:

• rash
• itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat)
• severe dizziness
• trouble breathing

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

In the US -

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at www.fda.gov/medwatch.

In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

Before taking tafenoquine, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to chloroquine or primaquine; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of:

• mental/mood disorders (such as psychosis, schizophrenia, hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking/behavior)
• certain enzyme deficiencies (G6PD deficiency, NADH-dependent methemoglobin reductase deficiency)

Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products).

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. You should not become pregnant while using tafenoquine. Tafenoquine may harm an unborn baby. Your doctor should order a pregnancy test before you start this medication. Ask about reliable forms of birth control while using this medication and for 3 months after the last dose. If you become pregnant, talk to your doctor right away about the risks and benefits of this medication and about switching to another anti-malarial drug.

It is unknown if this medication passes into breast milk. A blood test to check if your baby has G6PD deficiency should be done before you start breastfeeding. If your baby is G6PD deficient or if the G6PD status is unknown, breastfeeding is not recommended while using this medication and for 3 months after the last dose. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval.

This medication can slow down the removal of other medications from your body, which may affect how they work. One example is dofetilide, among others.

If someone has overdosed and has serious symptoms such as passing out or trouble breathing, call 911. Otherwise, call a poison control center right away. US residents can call 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call 1-844-764-7669.

Do not share this medication with others.

Lab and/or medical tests (such as G6PD deficiency) should be done before you start taking this medication. Keep all medical and lab appointments.

If you miss a dose, follow the instructions in the Medication Guide.

If you miss 1 daily dose before you travel to the malarious area, take the missed dose so that a total of 3 daily doses have been taken. Start taking your weekly dose 1 week after your last daily dose.

If you miss 2 daily doses before you travel to the malarious area, take the daily missed dose each day for 2 days in a row so that a total of 3 daily doses have been taken. Start taking your weekly dose 1 week after your last daily dose.

If you miss 1 weekly dose, take the missed dose on any day up to the time of the next scheduled weekly dose.

If you miss 2 weekly doses, take one weekly missed dose on any day up to the time of the next scheduled weekly dose.

If you miss 3 or more weekly doses, take one weekly missed dose as a once-daily dose for 2 days up to the time of the next scheduled weekly dose.

If you miss your last dose of medication 7 days after the last dose that you took while in the malarious area, take this last dose as soon as you remember.

Store at room temperature away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medications away from children and pets.

Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company.

HOW TO USE THIS INFORMATION: This is a summary and does NOT have all possible information about this product. This information does not assure that this product is safe, effective, or appropriate for you. This information is not individual medical advice and does not substitute for the advice of your health care professional. Always ask your health care professional for complete information about this product and your specific health needs.