Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: MEFLOQUINE HYDROCHLORIDE versus PLAQUENIL.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: MEFLOQUINE HYDROCHLORIDE versus PLAQUENIL.
MEFLOQUINE HYDROCHLORIDE vs PLAQUENIL
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Mefloquine is a quinoline antimalarial agent that acts as a blood schizontocide. Its exact mechanism is unknown but is thought to involve forming toxic heme complexes or inhibiting heme polymerase, leading to parasite death.
Antimalarial and immunosuppressant; inhibits heme polymerase in Plasmodium, preventing conversion of toxic heme to hemozoin; also inhibits lysosomal function, antigen presentation, and cytokine production (e.g., IL-1, TNF-alpha) in autoimmune diseases.
250 mg (1 tablet) orally once weekly for prophylaxis; 1250 mg (5 tablets) as a single oral dose for treatment of uncomplicated malaria.
400 mg (310 mg base) orally daily, or 400 mg/day in divided doses; maintenance: 200-400 mg/day
None Documented
None Documented
~2-4 weeks (terminal half-life); clinical context: long half-life allows weekly dosing for prophylaxis, but accumulation can occur with repeated doses.
Terminal elimination half-life: 32-50 days (range 22-124 days) due to extensive tissue distribution and slow release from melanin-rich tissues; requires long-term dosing to achieve steady state (3-6 months).
~83% (fecal/biliary), ~9% (renal unchanged), ~2.5% (renal as metabolite).
Renal (50-70% unchanged), fecal (20-30% as metabolites), minor biliary.
Category A/B
Category C
Antimalarial
Antimalarial