mepron
Pharmaranks rates Mepron 3.5/5 for recall safety — an independent score from its FDA recall history and its manufacturer's record. Mepron (Atovaquone) is an antimalarial used to treat Pneumocystis Pneumonia, Cerebral Toxoplasmosis.
Atovaquone · by Glaxosmithkline
Based on 1 source · Recall-safety score from FDA recall history — this product's own recalls and its manufacturer's record. Not an efficacy or quality rating. methodology →
Key facts
- Active ingredient
- Atovaquone
- Drug class
- Antimalarial
- Form
- Suspension
- Strength
- Atovaquone 750MG/5ML
- Type
- Prescription (Rx)
- Brand or generic
- Brand-name
- May treat
- pneumocystis pneumonia, cerebral toxoplasmosis
- Manufacturer
- Glaxosmithkline
- What the pharmacy pays
- ~$0.71 per ml — not your price
- FDA application
- NDA020500
What is Mepron?
From the FDA label:MEPRON (atovaquone oral suspension) is a quinone antimicrobial drug. The chemical name of atovaquone is trans -2-[4-(4-chlorophenyl)cyclohexyl]-3-hydroxy-1,4-naphthalenedione. Atovaquone is a yellow crystalline solid that is practically insoluble in water. It has a molecular weight of 366.84 and the molecular formula C 22 H 19 ClO 3 . The compound has the following structural formula: MEPRON oral suspension is a formulation of micro‑fine particles of atovaquone. Each 5 mL of MEPRON oral suspension contains 750 mg of atovaquone and the inactive ingredients benzyl alcohol, flavor, poloxamer 188, purified water, saccharin sodium, and xanthan gum. atovaquone molecular chemical structure
How to use
Prevention of PCP: 1,500 mg (10 mL) once daily with food ( 2.1 ) • Treatment of PCP: 750 mg (5 mL) twice daily with food for 21 days ( 2.2 ) • Supplied in foil pouches and bottles: o Foil Pouch: For a 5-mL dose, take entire contents by mouth either by dispensing into a spoon or cup or directly into the mouth. For a 10-mL dose, take entire contents of 2 pouches. ( 2.3 ) o Bottle: Shake bottle gently before use. ( 2.3 ) 2.1 Dosage for the Prevention of P. jirovecii Pneumonia The recommended oral dosage is 1,500 mg (10 mL) once daily administered with food. 2.2 Dosage for the Treatment of Mild-to-Moderate P. jirovecii Pneumonia The recommended oral dosage is 750 mg (5 mL) twice daily (total daily dose = 1,500 mg) administered with food for 21 days. 2.3 Important Administration Instructions Administer MEPRON oral suspension with food to avoid low plasma atovaquone concentrations that may limit response to therapy [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 ), Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )]. MEPRON Foil Pouch • Open each 5-mL pouch by folding along the dotted line and tearing open at horizontal slit as directed by arrow on pouch. • For a 5-mL dose, take entire contents either by placing directly into the mouth or by dispensing into a dosing spoon (5 mL) or cup prior to administration by mouth. • For a 10-mL dose, take the entire contents of 2 pouches. MEPRON Bottle Shake bottle gently…
Side effects
The following adverse reactions are discussed in another section of the labeling: • Hepatotoxicity [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )]. • Severe Cutaneous Adverse Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 )] . • PCP Prevention: The most frequent adverse reactions (≥25% that required discontinuation) were diarrhea, rash, headache, nausea, and fever. ( 6.1 ) • PCP Treatment: The most frequent adverse reactions (≥14% that required discontinuation) were rash (including maculopapular), nausea, diarrhea, headache, vomiting, and fever. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact GlaxoSmithKline at 1-888-825-5249 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch . 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared with rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. Additionally, because many subjects who participated in clinical trials with MEPRON had complications of advanced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease, it was often difficult to distinguish adverse reactions caused by MEPRON from those caused by underlying medical conditions. PCP Prevention Trials In 2 clinical trials, MEPRON oral suspension was compared with dapsone or aerosolized pentamidine in HIV-1–infected…
Warnings
Important safety information
Failure to administer MEPRON oral suspension with food may result in lower plasma atovaquone concentrations and may limit response to therapy. Patients with gastrointestinal disorders may have limited absorption resulting in suboptimal atovaquone concentrations. ( 5.1 ) • Hepatotoxicity: Elevated liver chemistry tests and cases of hepatitis and fatal liver failure have been reported. ( 5.2 ) • Severe Cutaneous Adverse Reactions (SCARs): Cases of SCARs such as Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) have been reported. SCARs can be life-threatening or fatal. If symptoms or signs of SCARs develop, discontinue MEPRON immediately and institute appropriate therapy. ( 5.3 ) 5.1 Risk of Limited Oral Absorption Absorption of orally administered MEPRON oral suspension is limited but can be significantly increased when the drug is taken with food. Failure to administer MEPRON oral suspension with food may result in lower plasma atovaquone concentrations and may limit response to therapy. Consider therapy with other agents in patients who have difficulty taking MEPRON oral suspension with food or in patients who have gastrointestinal disorders that may limit absorption of oral medications [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )]. 5.2 Hepatotoxicity Cases of cholestatic hepatitis, elevated liver enzymes, and fatal liver failure have been reported in patients treated with atovaquone [see Adverse Reactions ( 6.2 )]. If treating patients with severe hepatic impairment, closely monitor patients following administration of MEPRON. 5.3 Severe Cutaneous Adverse Reactions Cases of severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs), including Stevens ‑ Johnson Syndrome (SJS), drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), and erythema multiforme (EM) have been reported in patients treated with MEPRON [see Adverse Reactions ( 6.2 )]. SCARs can be life ‑ threatening or fatal. If symptoms or signs of SCARs develop, discontinue MEPRON immediately and institute appropriate therapy. Patients who have developed SCARs with the use of MEPRON must not receive MEPRON [see Contraindications ( 4 )].
Who should not take Mepron
MEPRON oral suspension is contraindicated in patients who develop or have a history of hypersensitivity reactions to atovaquone or any of the components of MEPRON [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 ), Adverse Reactions ( 6.2 )] . Known serious allergic/hypersensitivity reaction to atovaquone or any of the components of MEPRON. ( 4 )
Overdose — what happens if you take too much
Overdoses up to 31,500 mg of atovaquone have been reported. In one such patient who also took an unspecified dose of dapsone, methemoglobinemia occurred. Rash has also been reported after overdose. There is no known antidote for atovaquone, and it is currently unknown if atovaquone is dialyzable.
U.S. Poison Control: call or text 1-800-222-1222 (free, 24/7). In an emergency call 911. From the FDA label; not medical advice.
Interactions
Concomitant administration of rifampin or rifabutin reduces atovaquone concentrations; concomitant use with MEPRON oral suspension is not recommended. ( 7.1 ) • Concomitant administration of tetracycline reduces atovaquone concentrations; use caution when coadministering. Monitor patients for potential loss of efficacy of MEPRON if coadministration of tetracycline is necessary. ( 7.2 ) • Concomitant administration with metoclopramide reduces atovaquone concentrations; administer concomitantly only if other antiemetics are not available. ( 7.3 ) • Concomitant administration of indinavir reduces indinavir trough concentrations; use caution when coadministering. Monitor patients for potential loss of efficacy of indinavir if coadministration is necessary. ( 7.4 ) 7.1 Rifampin/Rifabutin Concomitant administration of rifampin or rifabutin and MEPRON oral suspension is known to reduce atovaquone concentrations [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )] . Concomitant administration of MEPRON oral suspension and rifampin or rifabutin is not recommended. 7.2 Tetracycline Concomitant administration of tetracycline and MEPRON oral suspension has been associated with a reduction in plasma concentrations of atovaquone [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )]. Caution should be used when prescribing tetracycline concomitantly with MEPRON oral suspension. Monitor patients for potential loss of efficacy of MEPRON if coadministration is necessary. 7.3 Metoclopramide Metoclopramide may reduce the bioavailability of atovaquone and should be used only if other antiemetics are not available [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )]. 7.4 Indinavir Concomitant administration of atovaquone and indinavir did not result in any change in the steady-state AUC and C max of indinavir but resulted in a decrease in the C trough of indinavir [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )]. Caution should be exercised when prescribing MEPRON oral suspension with indinavir due to the decrease in trough concentrations of indinavir. Monitor patients for potential loss of efficacy of indinavir if coadministration with MEPRON oral suspension is necessary.
Drug class
May treat (source: NIH RxClass)
Dosage forms
Suspension
The forms currently marketed in the U.S., per the FDA National Drug Code Directory.
Ways to save
Ask for the generic
Same active ingredient, far cheaper. Is there a generic? →
Request a 90-day supply
Bulk fills usually lower the per-dose price vs monthly refills.
Use copay cards
Manufacturer copay cards & patient-assistance programs — especially for brand drugs.
Compare alternatives
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Frequently asked questions
- What does Mepron treat?
- Mepron (Atovaquone) may be used to treat pneumocystis pneumonia, cerebral toxoplasmosis, based on NIH RxClass drug-classification data (conditions a drug may treat — not a verbatim copy of the FDA-approved label). This is general reference, not medical advice.
- How is Mepron rated?
- pharmaranks gives Mepron a composite score of 3.5 out of 5, currently based on 1 weighted source (FDA regulatory recall-safety data weighted highest). See our methodology at /how-we-rate.
- How much does Mepron cost?
- Nobody can tell you what you will pay — your price is set by your insurer's formulary, your deductible and the pharmacy's markup, and none of those are published. What IS published is what the pharmacy paid to acquire it: about $0.71 per ml, per the CMS NADAC survey. Treat that as the floor, not the quote — ask the pharmacist for the cash price as well as your copay, because for cheap generics the cash price often wins.
- Is there a coupon or discount for Mepron?
- pharmaranks is an independent ratings site, not a pharmacy — we don't issue coupons or sell Mepron. To pay less, ask your prescriber or pharmacist whether a generic equivalent exists, check the manufacturer's copay/savings card and patient-assistance program, and compare a pharmacy discount card against your insurance copay. Prices vary by pharmacy, insurance, and location, so always confirm at the counter. This is general reference, not medical or financial advice.
- Who makes Mepron?
- Mepron is marketed by Glaxosmithkline. You can see Glaxosmithkline's full profile, rating, and other products on pharmaranks.
- Is Mepron a brand-name or generic drug?
- Mepron is a brand-name product with the active ingredient Atovaquone.
- Is Mepron available over the counter?
- No. Mepron is a prescription (Rx) medication in the US — you need a prescription from a licensed clinician (in person or via telehealth); it isn't sold over the counter. For some conditions there are OTC alternatives — ask your pharmacist.
- What forms does Mepron come in?
- Mepron is currently marketed as suspension, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory.
- What class of drug is Mepron?
- Mepron is classified as antimalarial, antiprotozoal, per the FDA's Established Pharmacologic Class.
- Is Mepron FDA-registered?
- Mepron is on record with the U.S. FDA under application number NDA020500. You can verify this on its official FDA label.
- Has Mepron been recalled by the FDA?
- Mepron has no FDA recalls recorded under its own application in the openFDA enforcement database. Its recall-safety score reflects its manufacturer's overall recall record. This is general reference, not medical advice — check the FDA recall database for the latest alerts.
- Is Mepron safe?
- There's no single safe-or-not verdict. pharmaranks gives Mepron a recall-safety score of 70/100, based on its FDA recall history (no recalls under its own FDA application) — not an efficacy or side-effect rating. Review its FDA-label side effects and warnings before use, and always consult a licensed professional.
- What are the side effects of Mepron?
- Mepron's side effects are taken directly from its FDA label. From the label: The following adverse reactions are discussed in another section of the labeling: • Hepatotoxicity [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )]. • Severe Cutaneous Adverse Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 )] .… Both common and serious reactions are documented in full on this page. This is general reference from the FDA, not medical advice — always consult a professional.
Clinical content sourced from the FDA label via openFDA (U.S. FDA). View the FDA label on DailyMed → Provided for general reference only — not medical advice. Always consult a licensed professional and the current prescribing information.
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mepron
70/100