atovaquone/proguanil vs tetracycline
Side-by-side comparison of atovaquone/proguanil and tetracycline. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
minor Known Drug Interaction
( 7.2 ) • Tetracycline may reduce atovaquone concentrations; parasitemia should be closely monitored. 7.3 Tetracycline Concomitant treatment with tetracycline has been associated with a reduction in plasma concentrations of atovaquone [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )] . Parasitemia should be closely monitored in patients receiving tetracycline.
Recommendation: Your doctor should check your blood frequently to ensure the infection is being properly treated.
Malarone
Sumycin
Malarone is a drug used to prevent and treat malaria. It contains two medicines, atovaquone and proguanil, that work together to kill the malaria parasite.
Tetracycline is an antibiotic medicine. It fights bacteria in your body to treat different types of infections.
Malarone is used to prevent malaria, especially in areas where the malaria parasite is resistant to chloroquine. It is also used to treat malaria infections that are not severe. Malarone can be effective even when other malaria drugs don't work well.
Tetracycline treats many kinds of infections caused by bacteria. This includes infections of the lungs, skin, urinary tract, and some sexually transmitted infections. It can also treat acne and other less common infections like brucellosis, tularemia, or cholera. Your doctor will decide if tetracycline is right for your infection.
Malarone contains two active ingredients: atovaquone and proguanil. Atovaquone stops the malaria parasite's energy production. Proguanil disrupts the parasite's ability to multiply. Together, they kill the parasite and treat or prevent malaria.
Tetracycline works by stopping bacteria from growing and multiplying. It prevents the bacteria from making proteins they need to survive. This helps your body's immune system fight off the infection.
- • Abdominal pain
- • Headache
- • Cough
- • Vomiting
- • Diarrhea
- • Nausea
- • Vomiting
- • Diarrhea
- • Loss of appetite
- • Stomach upset
- Fever 429
- Diarrhea 408
- Feeling sick to your stomach 370
- Lung infection 355
- Death 294
- Drug Hypersensitivity 151
- Hypersensitivity 123
- Pneumonia 103
- Pain In Extremity 93
- Arthralgia 90
Elevated liver tests, hepatitis, and liver failure have been reported with Malarone. If you have severe kidney problems, do not use Malarone to prevent malaria. Malarone has not been tested for treating severe malaria affecting the brain, lungs, or kidneys.
Tetracycline can cause permanent tooth discoloration if used during tooth development. This means it should not be used in pregnant women or children under 8 years old. Tetracycline can also make your skin more sensitive to the sun, so avoid prolonged sun exposure.
It is not known if Malarone can harm an unborn baby. Pregnant women should continue taking folate supplements. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant before taking this medicine.
Tetracycline can harm an unborn baby. You should not take tetracycline if you are pregnant. Tetracycline can also pass into breast milk and may affect the baby. Talk to your doctor about safe alternatives if you are breastfeeding.
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How to Read This atovaquone/proguanil vs tetracycline Comparison
atovaquone/proguanil is classified in the Antimalarial Combination drug class, while tetracycline sits within the Tetracycline Antibiotic class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, atovaquone/proguanil has 1,856 submissions while tetracycline has 560. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to tetracycline can lower the amount of atovaquone in your body, making it harder for the drug to fight off the infection.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between atovaquone/proguanil and tetracycline - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.