Potential Drug Interactions in a Traveler Receiving Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole and an Antimalarial Drug

Description

A patient who is at risk for serious complications from traveler's diarrhea may be treated with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX). The patient may also be receiving antimalarial drugs. Some of these drug combinations can have serious adverse effects.

Example: a patient receiving immunosuppression for an organ transplant

Drugs that may increase the risk for TMP/SMX-related cardiac toxicity (including cardiac arrest, prolonged QT interval, torsades de pointes):

(1) mefloquine (Lariam)

(2) chloroquine (Aralen)

Drugs that may increase the risk for TMP/SMX-related bone marrow toxicity:

(1) atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone)

(2) sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine (Fansidar)

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Description

Specialty

ICD-10