Antimalarial agents 

Antimalarials agents are drugs effective in the treatment of malaria. Malaria is an infectious disease caused by the bite of an anopheles mosquito infected with certain protozoans. The best way to prevent malaria is by taking antimalarial drugs prophylactically prior to entering an endemic area.

Antimalarial agents are classified according to their action against different stages of the life cycle of the parasite. Certain antimalarial agents are more effective in the acute attack of malaria, and generally more that one agent will be used simultaneously to avoid resistance. Some antimalarial agents are used as prophylactic agents; they kill the parasite when it enters the host.

1. Aryl aminoalcohol compounds: quinine, quinidine, chloroquine, amodiaquine, mefloquine, halofantrine, lumefantrine, piperaquine, tafenoquine.
2. Antifolate compounds (“antifols”): pyrimethamine, proguanil, chlorproguanil, trimethoprim.

Antimalarial drugs work by killing these parasites that cause the disease. There are different types of antimalarials usually taken as pills or injections. Common brands include artemisinin, chloroquine, quinine sulfate, doxycycline, and quinine.

Prophylaxis should begin 1–2 days before travel to malaria-endemic areas; the medication should then be taken daily, at the same time each day, while in the malaria-endemic areas, and daily for 7 days after leaving the endemic areas (see Table 5-28 for recommended dosages).