A double-blind clinical trial of a combination of mefloquine, sulfadoxine and pyrimethamine in symptomatic falciparum malaria

Abstract

Fansimef is a combination of 250 mg of mefloquine, 500 mg of sulfadoxine, and 25 mg of pyrimethamine per tablet. A total of 150 adult male Zambian patients who had symptomatic Plasmodium falciparum parasitaemia were treated in a double-blind randomized fashion with either one, two or three tablets of Fansimef. All patients in the three treatment groups showed an S-type response. The rates of clearance of parasitaemia and fever were similar in all treatment groups. Tolerance was good at all dose levels. The main side-effects were abdominal discomfort, weakness and lassitude, dizziness, and pruritus, but these were mild, transient and required no specific treatment. Vomiting occurred only in 4% of patients given the highest dose of three tablets. The results of various haematological and biochemical investigations and urinalysis were not adversely altered by the administration of Fansimef.