Primaquine Side Effects

As with many older medications, there is limited information about the potential side effects of primaquine. Some of the possible reactions to this prescription medication include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. In most cases, people can take this medication without any problems. However, contact your healthcare provider if you develop serious side effects, such as vision problems, depression, or difficulty breathing.

An Introduction to Primaquine Side Effects

Just like any medicine, primaquine phosphate can cause side effects. However, not everyone who takes the medication will have problems. In fact, most people tolerate it quite well. If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or are treated easily by you or your healthcare provider.
 
(This article covers many, but not all, of the possible side effects with primaquine. Your healthcare provider can discuss a more complete list with you.)
 

Common Side Effects of Primaquine

For many medications, the prescribing information carefully explains the exact percentage of side effects that were seen in clinical trials. However, the prescribing information for almost all older medications, including primaquine, include only vague information on potential side effects, with no percentages reported. Therefore, it can be difficult to know exactly how often the side effects of such medications occur.
 
Some of the most common primaquine side effects may include but are not limited to:
 
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Loss of appetite
  • Stomach upset
  • Abdominal (stomach) cramps
  • Diarrhea.
     
Primaquine Side Effects Article Continues on Next Page >
Written by/reviewed by: Susan Lakey, PharmD, MPH
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD
 
Other Articles in This eMedTV Presentation
Referring Pages Articles