When primaquine, an antimalarial drug used to kill dormant liver parasites and prevent relapse. Also known as 8-aminoquinoline, it's often prescribed after other malaria treatments to stop the disease from coming back. isn’t right for you—whether due to G6PD deficiency, side effects, or drug availability—there are real, proven alternatives that work just as well in the right context.
One of the most common chloroquine, a first-line antimalarial used for sensitive strains of Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium ovale can be used alone in areas where resistance isn’t a problem, but it doesn’t touch the liver stage like primaquine does. That’s where hydroxychloroquine, a less toxic cousin of chloroquine, sometimes used off-label for radical cure in patients who can’t take primaquine comes in. It’s not FDA-approved for this use, but some doctors use it cautiously when primaquine is off the table. Then there’s mefloquine, a blood-stage antimalarial that can be used for prevention and treatment, especially in regions with chloroquine-resistant strains. It doesn’t eliminate liver parasites either, but it’s often paired with other drugs to cover the full lifecycle.
For travelers or people in high-risk areas, the choice isn’t just about what works—it’s about what’s safe for your body. If you have G6PD deficiency, which affects millions worldwide, primaquine can trigger dangerous anemia. That’s why doctors turn to alternatives like tafenoquine, which is similar to primaquine but requires a single dose and comes with its own G6PD testing requirement. In places where access to testing is limited, chloroquine or mefloquine may be the only practical options, even if they don’t fully prevent relapse.
What you’ll find in the posts below aren’t just lists of drugs—they’re real comparisons. You’ll see how these alternatives stack up against each other in cost, side effects, and effectiveness. Some posts break down how patients manage malaria in rural clinics, others compare dosing schedules, and a few even cover what happens when you can’t get primaquine at all. Whether you’re a patient, caregiver, or just trying to understand your prescription, this collection gives you the facts without the fluff. No guesswork. Just clear, practical info to help you make smarter choices.
