Tafenoquine

FDA label, 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals, INC., oral, effective 2025-01-10. Full label on DailyMed

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From MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine

Quoted from the FDA label. Product labels differ by manufacturer and change over time; confirm against the label for the product you are using.

Dosing in kidney impairment

Renal Impairment The pharmacokinetics of ARAKODA have not been studied in patients with renal impairment. If ARAKODA is administered to such patients, monitoring for adverse reactions associated with ARAKODA is needed [see Warnings and Precautions, Adverse Reactions] .

Dosing in liver impairment

Hepatic Impairment The pharmacokinetics of ARAKODA have not been studied in patients with hepatic impairment. If ARAKODA is administered to such patients, monitoring for adverse reactions associated with ARAKODA is needed [see Warnings and Precautions, Adverse Reactions] .

Preparation and administration

Recommended Dosage and Administration Instructions The recommended dosage of ARAKODA is described in Table 1 below. ARAKODA can be administered for up to 6 months of continuous dosing. [See table below.]

Administer ARAKODA with food. [see Clinical Pharmacology] .

Swallow the tablet whole. Do not break, crush or chew the tablets.

Complete the full course of ARAKODA including the loading dose and the terminal dose. [See table below.]

Drug interactions

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Label text (2 paragraphs)

Avoid co-administration with drugs that are substrates of organic cation transporter-2 (OCT2) or multidrug and toxin extrusion (MATE) transporters ( 7.1 )

7.1 Effect of ARAKODA on Organic Cation Transporter-2 (OCT2) and Multidrug and Toxin Extrusion (MATE) Substrates The effect of coadministration of tafenoquine on the pharmacokinetics of OCT2 and MATE substrates in humans is unknown. However, in vitro observations suggest the potential for increased concentrations of these substrates [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )] which may increase the risk of toxicity of these drugs. Avoid coadministration of ARAKODA with OCT2 and MATE substrates (e.g., dofetilide, metformin). If coadministration cannot be avoided, monitor for drug-related toxicities and consider dosage reduction if needed based on approved product labeling of the coadministered drug.

Contraindications

4 CONTRAINDICATIONS ARAKODA is contraindicated in: • patients with G6PD deficiency or unknown G6PD status due to the risk of hemolytic anemia [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] . • breastfeeding by a lactating woman when the infant is found to be G6PD deficient or if the G6PD status of the infant is unknown [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 ), Use in Specific Populations ( 8.2 )] .

• patients with a history of psychotic disorders or current psychotic symptoms (i.e., hallucinations, delusions, and/or grossly disorganized behavior) [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 )] • patients with known hypersensitivity reactions to tafenoquine, other 8-aminoquinolines, or any component of ARAKODA [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.5 )] .

• G6PD deficiency or unknown G6PD status ( 4 ) • Breastfeeding by a lactating woman when the infant is found to be G6PD deficient or if G6PD status is unknown ( 4 , 8.2 ) • Patients with a history of psychotic disorders or current psychotic symptoms ( 4 , 5.4 ) • Known hypersensitivity reactions to tafenoquine, other 8-aminoquinolines, or any component of ARAKODA. ( 4 )

Safety data

Reported adverse events (FAERS)

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Source: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System via openFDA

Liver injury (LiverTox)

E

Likelihood score E: Unlikely cause of clinically apparent liver injury.

Tafenoquine is an aminoquinoline that is used in combination with other antimalarials for the prevention of relapse of Plasmodium vivax malaria and by itself as prophylaxis against all species of malaria. Tafenoquine has been linked to low rates of transient and asymptomatic serum enzyme elevations during therapy but has not been associated with instances of clinically apparent acute liver injury.

ABCDEA: well known cause; E: unlikely cause. [HD]: high doses only.

Source: LiverTox: Tafenoquine (NIDDK, public domain)Chapter updated Apr 10, 2019

Pregnancy and lactation

Pregnancy

8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary The use of ARAKODA during pregnancy may cause hemolytic anemia in a fetus who is G6PD-deficient. Treatment with ARAKODA during pregnancy is not recommended. If a pregnancy is detected during ARAKODA use, discontinue ARAKODA as soon as possible and switch to an alternative prophylactic drug for malaria during pregnancy [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] . Available data with use of ARAKODA in pregnant women are insufficient to establish a drug-associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes.

In animal studies, there were increased abortions, with and without maternal toxicity when tafenoquine was given orally to pregnant rabbits at and above doses equivalent to about 0.4 times the clinical exposure based on body surface area comparisons. No fetotoxicity was observed at doses about 1.5 times the clinical exposure (based on body surface area comparisons) in a similar study in rats. The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss, or other adverse outcomes. In the U.S.

general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2% to 4% and 15% to 20%, respectively. Clinical Considerations Disease-Associated Maternal and/or Embryo/Fetal Risk: Malaria during pregnancy increases the risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes, including maternal anemia, prematurity, spontaneous abortion and stillbirth. Data Animal Data: Tafenoquine resulted in dose-related abortions when given orally to pregnant rabbits during organogenesis (Gestation Days 6 to 18), at doses of 7 mg/kg (about 0.4 times the clinical exposure based on body surface area comparisons) and above.

Doses higher than 7 mg/kg were also associated with maternal toxicity (mortality and reduced body weight gain). In a similar study in rats, doses of 3, 10, or 30 mg/kg/day resulted in maternal toxicity (enlarged spleen, reduced body weight and reduced food intake) but no fetotoxicity at the high dose (about 1.5 times the clinical exposure based on body surface area comparisons). There was no evidence of malformations in either species.

In a pre- and postnatal development study in rats, tafenoquine administered throughout pregnancy and lactation produced maternal toxicity and a reversible decrease in offspring body weight gain and decrease in motor activity at 18 mg/kg/day, which is equivalent to about 0.6 times the clinical dose based on body surface…

Breastfeeding (LactMed)

No information is available on the use of tafenoquine during breastfeeding. The amounts in milk are acceptable if the infant is not glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficient, but tafenoquine can cause hemolysis in patients with G6PD deficiency. If tafenoquine is needed by the mother, testing the mother and infant for G6PD deficiency is required before the drug is given. Because the half-life of tafenoquine averages 15 days, the manufacturer recommends that breastfeeding should not breastfeed for 3 months after the dose if the infant is G6PD deficient, which implies complete cessation of nursing.

Alternatives LactMed suggests considering:
Source: LactMed: Tafenoquine (NICHD, public domain)Revised Jan 15, 2026

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