Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For halofantrine, the following should be considered:

Allergies—Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to halofantrine. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy—Halofantrine has not been studied in pregnant women. However, it has been found to cause unwanted effects, including death of the fetus, in animals. Before taking this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.

Breast-feeding—Halofantrine may pass into breast milk and cause unwanted effects in nursing babies. It may be necessary for you to take another medicine or to stop breast-feeding while taking halofantrine. Be sure you have discussed the risks and benefits of the medicine with your doctor.

Children—Although there is no specific information comparing use of halofantrine in children with use in other age groups, this medicine is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in children than it does in adults.

Older adults—Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use of halofantrine in the elderly with use in other age groups.

Other medicines—Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking halofantrine, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking the following:

• Mefloquine (e.g., Lariam)—Recent use of mefloquine or use of mefloquine with halofantrine may cause fast and irregular heartbeat

Other medical problems—The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of halofantrine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Heart problems, especially abnormal heartbeat or
• Thiamine deficiency or
• Unexplained sudden fainting—These conditions increase the chance of side effects affecting the heart, including fast irregular heartbeat