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System Formulary Update
Antimalarial Agents

Situation

The Antimalarial Agents class review and formulary standardization was approved at the March 2022 System Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee meeting.

Background

The following medications were reviewed: artemether/lumefantrine, artesunate, atovaquone/proguanil, hydroxychloroquine, chloroquine, primaquine, mefloquine, pyrimethamine, tafenoquine, quinine.

Assessment/Recommendations

Changes Effective: JUNE 21^st

System P&T voted to include the following products on the UNC Health System Drug Formulary:

• Hydroxychloroquine tablet: 200 mg
• Hydroxychloroquine oral suspension: 25 mg/mL (extemporaneous)
• Primaquine tablet: 26.3 mg (15 mg base)
• Pyrimethamine oral suspension: 2 mg/mL (extemporaneous)
• Artemether/lumefantrine tablet: 20 mg/120 mg
• Aresunate 110 mg intravenous
  • RESTRICTED to laboratory-confirmed, severe malaria (as defined by the CDC)

As a result, the following products will be removed from the inpatient drug formulary:

• Atovaquone/proguanil tablet: 250 mg/100 mg
• Quinine capsule: 324 mg
• Chloroquine tablet: 250 mg, 500 mg
• Chloroquine oral suspension: 10 mg/mL (extemporaneous)
• Pyrimethamine tablet: 25 mg