What is the difference between Arakoda and Krintafel?

Arakoda is used to help prevent malaria and Krintafel is used to treat malaria caused by plasmodium vivax.

The primary difference between Arakoda (tafenoquine) and Krintafel (tafenoquine) has to do with their approved uses for malaria. Both drugs contain the same active ingredient -- tafenoquine -- which is classified as an 8-aminoquinoline derivative antimalarial. However, there are some key differences.

• Arakoda (tafenoquine) is used to prevent malaria in patients aged 18 years and older and is given before, during and after travel to areas with malaria. The dose of Arakoda is 200 mg (two 100 mg tablets taken at the same time). After a 3-day loading dose prior to travel, Arakoda is given only once per week during travel, and then one time 7 days after travel to areas with malaria. Arakoda should be taken with food. Arakoda is active against both of the major types of malaria (P. vivax and P. falciparum).
• Krintafel (tafenoquine) is an antimalarial taken as a single dose for the radical cure (prevention of relapse) of Plasmodium vivax malaria in patients 16 years and older who are receiving appropriate antimalarial therapy. Krintafel is not used to treat acute P. vivax malaria. Krintafel comes as a 150 mg tablet, and is given as a single dose of 300 mg (two 150 mg tablets taken at the same time). Krintafel should be taken with food. Krintafel is the first new treatment for Plasmodium vivax malaria in over six decades.

  Malaria, a parasitic, mosquito-borne disease, can cause fever, chills, and death if left untreated. In 2016 an estimated 216 million cases of malaria occurred worldwide with 445,000 deaths, mostly in African children, according to the CDC.

  What are the differences in side effects between Arakoda and Krintafel?

  The most common side effects with Krintafel include: dizziness, nausea, vomiting, headache, and changes in laboratory tests for hemoglobin (the iron-containing protein in red blood cells).

  Similar to Krintafel, Arakoda has also been reported to cause: dizziness, headache, nausea, and vomiting. However, Arakoda, which is used over a longer period of time, has also been reported to cause: back pain, diarrhea, elevated liver enzymes, motion sickness, insomnia, depression, abnormal dreams, and anxiety.