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 iodoquinol, the following should be considered:

Allergies—Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to iodoquinol, chloroxine (e.g., Capitrol), clioquinol (e.g., Vioform), iodine, pamaquine, pentaquine, or primaquine. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy—Iodoquinol has not been reported to cause birth defects or other problems in humans.

Breast-feeding—It is not known whether iodoquinol passes into breast milk. Although most medicines pass into breast milk in small amounts, many of them may be used safely while breast-feeding. Mothers who are taking this medicine and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctor.

Children—Children may be more likely to develop certain side effects, especially if given high doses for a long time.

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 iodoquinol 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. Tell your health care professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

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

• Eye disease—Iodoquinol may cause side effects affecting the eye or make eye disease worse

• Kidney disease or
• Liver disease or
• Thyroid disease—Patients with kidney disease, liver disease, or thyroid disease may have an increased chance of side effects