Bitaquine DS 500mg Tablet

Composition Chloroquine (500mg)
Rx Prescription Required
Pack strip of 6 tablets
Storage Store below 30°C
Chemical Class 4-Aminoquinoline derivative
Action Class Antimalarial- Aminoquinolines
Habbit Forming No
Manufacturer Bombay Tablet Mfg Co Pvt Ltd
Manufacturer address Bombay Tablet Mfg. Co. Pvt. Ltd., Off. 304, S. Gandhi Marg, Mumbai – 400 002.

Bitaquine DS 500mg Tablet is an antiparasitic medicine, used for the prevention and treatment of malaria. It works by killing the malaria-causing parasite and stops the infection from spreading.

Bitaquine DS 500mg Tablet should be used in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Take it with food to decrease the risk of stomach upset. Do not skip any doses and finish the full course of treatment even if you feel better. Stopping it early can result in treatment failure and increase the side effects too. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed dose. Simply take the next dose as planned. Take measures to reduce the chance of being bitten by mosquitoes like using insect repellent creams on parts of your body, not covered by clothing. Spray mosquito repellent to kill any mosquitoes that may have entered rooms in spite of screening. Wear light-colored and covered clothing when you are outside after sunset.Some people may experience rash, headache, dizziness, and vomiting as side effects of this medicine. It may also cause stomach pain, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and nausea. Please consult your doctor if these side effects persist for a longer duration.Inform your doctor if you have diabetes as it can lower the sugar levels in the blood. If you are diabetic, you should monitor your blood sugar regularly. It may cause blurring of vision. Therefore, regular eye examinations are recommended while on treatment with this medicine. When used long-term, your doctor may monitor the amounts of the different types of blood cells in your blood regularly. Inform your doctor if you have unexplained bruising or bleeding, sore throat, fever, or a general feeling of tiredness.

Treatment of Malaria

Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Bitaquine DS 500mg Tablet is to be taken with food.

Bitaquine DS 500mg Tablet is an antiparasitic medication that treats malaria. It works by increasing the levels of haeme in the blood, a substance toxic to the malarial parasite. This kills the parasite and stops the infection from spreading.

If you miss a dose of Bitaquine DS 500mg Tablet, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular schedule. Do not double the dose.

Bitaquine DS 500mg Tablet is used for the prevention and treatment of malaria.

Take it with food to decrease the risk of stomach upset.

Tips to reduce the chance of being bitten by mosquitoes:Wear light-colored and covered clothing when you are outside after sunset.Use insect repellent creams or sprays on parts of your body not covered by clothing.Spray to kill any mosquitoes that may have entered rooms despite screening.

Wear light-colored and covered clothing when you are outside after sunset.

Use insect repellent creams or sprays on parts of your body not covered by clothing.

Spray to kill any mosquitoes that may have entered rooms despite screening.

It may cause a blurring of vision when you first start taking it. Use caution while driving or doing anything that requires concentration.

Eye examination before and at 3–6 monthly intervals during use is required if patients are receiving Bitaquine DS 500mg Tablet at continuous high doses for a longer duration.

It may cause low blood sugar levels. Monitor your blood sugar level regularly, if you are diabetic.

When used long-term, your doctor may monitor the amounts of the different types of blood cells in your blood regularly. Inform your doctor if you have unexplained bruising or bleeding, sore throat, fever, or a general feeling of tiredness.

Q. What is Bitaquine DS 500mg Tablet and what it is used for?

Bitaquine DS 500mg Tablet is an anti-malarial medicine that is used for the treatment and prevention of malaria.

Q. How long does it take for malaria symptoms to show?

Symptoms of malaria can develop as quickly as 7 days after you are bitten by an infected mosquito. Usually, the symptoms may take up to 7 to 18 days to appear (incubation periods) from the day of the infection. Initial symptoms of malaria are flu-like which include feeling hot and shivery, fever, muscle pains, vomiting, headaches, and diarrhea.

Q. Is it safe to use Bitaquine DS 500mg Tablet for a long period of time?

If your doctor has prescribed you Bitaquine DS 500mg Tablet for a longer period of time, you should get your eyes checked regularly. This is because chloroquine present in this medicine might cause blurred vision, difficulty reading (due to words disappearing), and a rare eye condition called retinopathy if taken for a longer period of time.

Q. Who should not use Bitaquine DS 500mg Tablet?

Inform your doctor if you have psoriasis before taking Bitaquine DS 500mg Tablet since it may make your condition worse.

Q. What are the side effects of Bitaquine DS 500mg Tablet?

Some of the most common side effects of this medicine are stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and headache. These side effects can often be reduced by taking the medicine with food.

Q. Can chloroquine cure coronavirus (COVID-19)?

There is not enough medical data to prove that chloroquine is effective in treating COVID-19. Therefore it is advisable not to take Bitaquine DS 500mg Tablet without consulting your doctor for treating COVID-19.

Q. Can I take antacids along with Bitaquine DS 500mg Tablet?

If you take an antacid, give a gap of at least 4 hours between the two medications.

Q. What is the difference between hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine?

Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine were both first approved for malaria. However, chloroquine tends to cause many more side effects than hydroxychloroquine. As a result, hydroxychloroquine is more commonly used today. Hydroxychloroquine is also approved to treat rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, while chloroquine is not.

Q. How can you prevent yourself from getting malaria?

Malaria can be prevented by taking certain precautionary steps like covering your arms and legs to prevent mosquito bites, using a mosquito net, and insect repellent. Check with your doctor whether you need to take malaria prevention tablets. If you do, make sure you take the right antimalarial tablets at the right dose and finish the proper course of treatment.

Q. What is Bitaquine DS 500mg Tablet and what it is used for?

Bitaquine DS 500mg Tablet is an anti-malarial medicine that is used for the treatment and prevention of malaria.

Q. How long does it take for malaria symptoms to show?

Symptoms of malaria can develop as quickly as 7 days after you are bitten by an infected mosquito. Usually, the symptoms may take up to 7 to 18 days to appear (incubation periods) from the day of the infection. Initial symptoms of malaria are flu-like which include feeling hot and shivery, fever, muscle pains, vomiting, headaches, and diarrhea.

Q. Is it safe to use Bitaquine DS 500mg Tablet for a long period of time?

If your doctor has prescribed you Bitaquine DS 500mg Tablet for a longer period of time, you should get your eyes checked regularly. This is because chloroquine present in this medicine might cause blurred vision, difficulty reading (due to words disappearing), and a rare eye condition called retinopathy if taken for a longer period of time.

Q. Who should not use Bitaquine DS 500mg Tablet?

Inform your doctor if you have psoriasis before taking Bitaquine DS 500mg Tablet since it may make your condition worse.

Q. What are the side effects of Bitaquine DS 500mg Tablet?

Some of the most common side effects of this medicine are stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and headache. These side effects can often be reduced by taking the medicine with food.

Q. Can chloroquine cure coronavirus (COVID-19)?

There is not enough medical data to prove that chloroquine is effective in treating COVID-19. Therefore it is advisable not to take Bitaquine DS 500mg Tablet without consulting your doctor for treating COVID-19.

Q. Can I take antacids along with Bitaquine DS 500mg Tablet?

If you take an antacid, give a gap of at least 4 hours between the two medications.

Q. What is the difference between hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine?

Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine were both first approved for malaria. However, chloroquine tends to cause many more side effects than hydroxychloroquine. As a result, hydroxychloroquine is more commonly used today. Hydroxychloroquine is also approved to treat rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, while chloroquine is not.

Q. How can you prevent yourself from getting malaria?

Malaria can be prevented by taking certain precautionary steps like covering your arms and legs to prevent mosquito bites, using a mosquito net and insect repellent. Check with your doctor whether you need to take malaria prevention tablets. If you do, make sure you take the right antimalarial tablets at the right dose and finish the proper course of treatment.

In Treatment of Malaria

Bitaquine DS 500mg Tablet is used to treat malaria, a serious or life-threatening illness that is spread by a parasite that enters the human body by the bite of infected mosquitoes. It kills the infection causing parasite and stops further spread of the infection. Take it only as prescribed and refrain from taking any other medicines along with this medicine (unless advised by the doctor) as they may affect the absorption of this medicine. Do not use this medicine for treating any other condition without consulting your doctor.

Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them

Diarrhea

Loss of appetite

Stomach pain

Nausea

Vomiting

Dizziness

Headache

Rash

Alcohol:CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR

It is not known whether it is safe to consume alcohol with Bitaquine DS 500mg Tablet. Please consult your doctor.

Pregnancy:CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR

Bitaquine DS 500mg Tablet may be unsafe to use during pregnancy. Although there are limited studies in humans, animal studies have shown harmful effects on the developing baby. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and any potential risks before prescribing it to you. Please consult your doctor.

Breast feeding:SAFE IF PRESCRIBED

Bitaquine DS 500mg Tablet is safe to use during breastfeeding. Human studies suggest that the drug does not pass into the breastmilk in a significant amount and is not harmful to the baby.

Driving:UNSAFE

Bitaquine DS 500mg Tablet may cause side effects which could affect your ability to drive.Sometimes Bitaquine DS 500mg Tablet causes blurred eyesight or makes it difficult to focus your eyes which may affect your ability to drive.

Kidney:CAUTION

Bitaquine DS 500mg Tablet should be used with caution in patients with kidney disease. Dose adjustment of Bitaquine DS 500mg Tablet may be needed. Please consult your doctor.

Liver:CAUTION

Bitaquine DS 500mg Tablet should be used with caution in patients with liver disease. Dose adjustment of Bitaquine DS 500mg Tablet may be needed. Please consult your doctor.Regular monitoring of liver function tests may be advised while you are taking this medicine.

Vinetz JM, Clain J, Bounkeua V, et al. Chemotherapy of Malaria. In: Brunton LL, Chabner BA, Knollmann BC, editors. Goodman & Gilman’s: The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. 12th ed. New York, New York: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2011. pp. 1402-405.

Furst DE, Ulrich RW, Varkey-Altamirano C. Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs, Disease Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs, Nonopioids Analgesics, & Drugs Used in Gout. In: Katzung BG, Masters SB, Trevor AJ, editors. Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. 11th ed. New Delhi, India: Tata McGraw Hill Education Private Limited; 2009. p. 630.

Rosenthal PJ. Antiprotozoal Drugs. In: Katzung BG, Masters SB, Trevor AJ, editors. Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. 11th ed. New Delhi, India: Tata McGraw Hill Education Private Limited; 2009. pp. 901-904.

Briggs GG, Freeman RK, editors. A Reference Guide to Fetal and Neonatal Risk: Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health; 2015. pp. 248-49.

Medscape. Chloroquine. view

Center for Global Health. Chloroquine. view

Chaves RG, Lamounier JA. Breastfeeding and maternal medications. J Pediatr . 2004;80:S189-98. view