Pharmacokinetics of mefloquine in uncomplicated plasmodium falciparum malaria patients in Myanmar

With the aim to study the pharmacokinetic basis underlying the therapeutic outcome of mefloquine in malaria patients, a single oral dose of 1000 mg mefloquine hydrochloride (Mepha) was administered to 24 patients with acute uncomplicated falciparum malaria and 10 healthy volunteers and was followed-up till day 42. The drug serum levels at various time intervals were analysed by a Waters HPLC and the pharmacokinetic profile studied. The study shows that although Myanmar malaria patients had a slower rate of absorption (T1/2ab = 6.38 + 0.60 hour; Tmax =1.31 + 0.12 days), the peak serum level reached was much higher (Cmax = 2.24 + 0.05 ug/ml) than those of the westerners.