amodiaquine

Amodiaquine is a medication used to treat malaria, including Plasmodium falciparum malaria when uncomplicated. The mechanism of plasmodicidal action of amodiaquine is not completely certain. Like other quinoline derivatives, it is thought to inhibit heme polymerase activity. This results in accumulation of free heme, which is toxic to the parasites. The drug binds the free heme preventing the parasite from converting it to a form less toxic. This drug-heme complex is toxic and disrupts membrane function. The side effects of amodiaquine are generally minor to moderate and are similar to those of chloroquine. Rarely liver problems or low blood cell levels may occur. When taken in excess headaches, trouble seeing, seizures, and cardiac arrest may occur. After oral administration amodiaquine hydrochloride is rapidly absorbed,and undergoes rapid and extensive metabolism to desethylamodiaquine which concentrates in red blood cells. It is likely that desethylamodiaquine, not amodiaquine, is responsible for most of the observed antimalarial activity, and that the toxic effects of amodiaquine after oral administration may in part be due to desethylamodiaquine. — NCATS