U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Divider Arrow National Institutes of Health Divider Arrow NCATS

Details

Stereochemistry RACEMIC
Molecular Formula C17H16F6N2O.ClH
Molecular Weight 414.773
Optical Activity ( + / - )
Defined Stereocenters 2 / 2
E/Z Centers 0
Charge 0

SHOW SMILES / InChI
Structure of MEFLOQUINE HYDROCHLORIDE

SMILES

Cl.[H][C@@]1(CCCCN1)[C@@H](O)C2=C3C=CC=C(C3=NC(=C2)C(F)(F)F)C(F)(F)F

InChI

InChIKey=WESWYMRNZNDGBX-YLCXCWDSSA-N
InChI=1S/C17H16F6N2O.ClH/c18-16(19,20)11-5-3-4-9-10(15(26)12-6-1-2-7-24-12)8-13(17(21,22)23)25-14(9)11;/h3-5,8,12,15,24,26H,1-2,6-7H2;1H/t12-,15+;/m1./s1

HIDE SMILES / InChI
Mefloquine, sold under the brand names Lariam among others, is a medication used to for the treatment of mild to moderate acute malaria caused by Mefloquineuine-susceptible strains of Plasmodium falciparum (both chloroquine-susceptible and resistant strains) or by Plasmodium vivax. Also for the prophylaxis of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax malaria infections, including prophylaxis of chloroquine-resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum. Mefloquine acts as a blood schizonticide. Mefloquine is active against the erythrocytic stages of Plasmodium species. However, the drug has no effect against the exoerythrocytic (hepatic) stages of the parasite. Mefloquine is effective against malaria parasites resistant to chloroquine. Mefloquine is a chiral molecule. According to some research, the (+) enantiomer is more effective in treating malaria, and the (-) enantiomer specifically binds to adenosine receptors in the central nervous system, which may explain some of its psychotropic effects.

CNS Activity

Curator's Comment: Male Wistar rats orally administered Mefloquine daily for 22 days at the equivalent human therapeutic plasma concentration showed CNS penetration of Mefloquine, with a 30 to 50 fold greater brain/plasma drug ratio up to 10 days after the final dose administered. The clinical use of mefloquine (MQ) has declined due to dose-related neurological events.

Originator

Curator's Comment: Mefloquine was developed by the United States Army in the 1970s. It is an antimalaria drug discovered by the US Army shortly after the Vietnam War, and subsequently marketed worldwide by F. Hoffmann-La Roche.

Approval Year

Targets

Targets

Primary TargetPharmacologyConditionPotency
46.0 nM [EC50]
Conditions

Conditions

ConditionModalityTargetsHighest PhaseProduct
Curative
MEFLOQUINE HYDROCHLORIDE

Approved Use

Treatment of Acute Malaria Infections: Mefloquine hydrochloride tablets are indicated for the treatment of mild to moderate acute malaria caused by mefloquine-susceptible strains of P. falciparum (both chloroquine-susceptible and resistant strains) or by Plasmodium vivax. There are insufficient clinical data to document the effect of mefloquine in malaria caused by P. ovale or P. malariae. Note: Patients with acute P. vivax malaria, treated with mefloquine, are at high risk of relapse because mefloquine does not eliminate exoerythrocytic (hepatic phase) parasites. To avoid relapse, after initial treatment of the acute infection with mefloquine, patients should subsequently be treated with an 8-aminoquinoline derivative (e.g., primaquine). Prevention of Malaria: Mefloquine hydrochloride tablets are indicated for the prophylaxis of P. falciparum and P. vivax malaria infections, including prophylaxis of chloroquine-resistant strains of P. falciparum.

Launch Date

1989
Cmax

Cmax

ValueDoseCo-administeredAnalytePopulation
1018 ng/mL
750 mg single, oral
dose: 750 mg
route of administration: Oral
experiment type: SINGLE
co-administered:
MEFLOQUINE plasma
Homo sapiens
population: HEALTHY
age: ADULT
sex: FEMALE / MALE
food status: FASTED
AUC

AUC

ValueDoseCo-administeredAnalytePopulation
432 μg × h/mL
750 mg single, oral
dose: 750 mg
route of administration: Oral
experiment type: SINGLE
co-administered:
MEFLOQUINE plasma
Homo sapiens
population: HEALTHY
age: ADULT
sex: FEMALE / MALE
food status: FASTED
T1/2

T1/2

ValueDoseCo-administeredAnalytePopulation
396 h
750 mg single, oral
dose: 750 mg
route of administration: Oral
experiment type: SINGLE
co-administered:
MEFLOQUINE plasma
Homo sapiens
population: HEALTHY
age: ADULT
sex: FEMALE / MALE
food status: FASTED
Funbound

Funbound

ValueDoseCo-administeredAnalytePopulation
2%
MEFLOQUINE plasma
Homo sapiens
population: UNKNOWN
age: UNKNOWN
sex: UNKNOWN
food status: UNKNOWN
Doses

Doses

DosePopulationAdverse events​
25 mg/kg single, oral
Highest studied dose
Dose: 25 mg/kg
Route: oral
Route: single
Dose: 25 mg/kg
Sources: Page: p.836
unhealthy, 0.4-88
n = 873
Health Status: unhealthy
Condition: Acute falciparum malaria
Age Group: 0.4-88
Sex: M+F
Population Size: 873
Sources: Page: p.836
1250 mg single, oral
Recommended
Dose: 1250 mg
Route: oral
Route: single
Dose: 1250 mg
Co-administed with::
Halofantrine
Sources: Page: p.12
unhealthy
Health Status: unhealthy
Condition: Malaria
Sources: Page: p.12
Other AEs: Electrocardiogram QTc interval prolonged...
Other AEs:
Electrocardiogram QTc interval prolonged
Sources: Page: p.12
1250 mg single, oral
Recommended
Dose: 1250 mg
Route: oral
Route: single
Dose: 1250 mg
Co-administed with::
Ketoconazole
Sources: Page: p.12
unhealthy
Health Status: unhealthy
Condition: Malaria
Sources: Page: p.12
Other AEs: Electrocardiogram QTc interval prolonged...
Other AEs:
Electrocardiogram QTc interval prolonged
Sources: Page: p.12
1250 mg single, oral
Recommended
Dose: 1250 mg
Route: oral
Route: single
Dose: 1250 mg
Co-administed with::
chloroquine
Sources: Page: p.12
unhealthy
Health Status: unhealthy
Condition: Malaria
Sources: Page: p.12
Disc. AE: Electrocardiogram abnormal...
AEs leading to
discontinuation/dose reduction:
Electrocardiogram abnormal
Sources: Page: p.12
1250 mg single, oral
Recommended
Dose: 1250 mg
Route: oral
Route: single
Dose: 1250 mg
Co-administed with::
quinine
Sources: Page: p.12
unhealthy
Health Status: unhealthy
Condition: Malaria
Sources: Page: p.12
Disc. AE: Electrocardiogram abnormal...
AEs leading to
discontinuation/dose reduction:
Electrocardiogram abnormal
Sources: Page: p.12
1250 mg single, oral
Recommended
Dose: 1250 mg
Route: oral
Route: single
Dose: 1250 mg
Sources: Page: p.12
unhealthy
Health Status: unhealthy
Condition: Malaria
Sources: Page: p.12
Disc. AE: Anxiety, Paranoia...
AEs leading to
discontinuation/dose reduction:
Anxiety
Paranoia
Depression
Hallucinations
Psychotic behavior
Sources: Page: p.12
AEs

AEs

AESignificanceDosePopulation
Electrocardiogram QTc interval prolonged
1250 mg single, oral
Recommended
Dose: 1250 mg
Route: oral
Route: single
Dose: 1250 mg
Co-administed with::
Halofantrine
Sources: Page: p.12
unhealthy
Health Status: unhealthy
Condition: Malaria
Sources: Page: p.12
Electrocardiogram QTc interval prolonged
1250 mg single, oral
Recommended
Dose: 1250 mg
Route: oral
Route: single
Dose: 1250 mg
Co-administed with::
Ketoconazole
Sources: Page: p.12
unhealthy
Health Status: unhealthy
Condition: Malaria
Sources: Page: p.12
Electrocardiogram abnormal Disc. AE
1250 mg single, oral
Recommended
Dose: 1250 mg
Route: oral
Route: single
Dose: 1250 mg
Co-administed with::
chloroquine
Sources: Page: p.12
unhealthy
Health Status: unhealthy
Condition: Malaria
Sources: Page: p.12
Electrocardiogram abnormal Disc. AE
1250 mg single, oral
Recommended
Dose: 1250 mg
Route: oral
Route: single
Dose: 1250 mg
Co-administed with::
quinine
Sources: Page: p.12
unhealthy
Health Status: unhealthy
Condition: Malaria
Sources: Page: p.12
Anxiety Disc. AE
1250 mg single, oral
Recommended
Dose: 1250 mg
Route: oral
Route: single
Dose: 1250 mg
Sources: Page: p.12
unhealthy
Health Status: unhealthy
Condition: Malaria
Sources: Page: p.12
Depression Disc. AE
1250 mg single, oral
Recommended
Dose: 1250 mg
Route: oral
Route: single
Dose: 1250 mg
Sources: Page: p.12
unhealthy
Health Status: unhealthy
Condition: Malaria
Sources: Page: p.12
Hallucinations Disc. AE
1250 mg single, oral
Recommended
Dose: 1250 mg
Route: oral
Route: single
Dose: 1250 mg
Sources: Page: p.12
unhealthy
Health Status: unhealthy
Condition: Malaria
Sources: Page: p.12
Paranoia Disc. AE
1250 mg single, oral
Recommended
Dose: 1250 mg
Route: oral
Route: single
Dose: 1250 mg
Sources: Page: p.12
unhealthy
Health Status: unhealthy
Condition: Malaria
Sources: Page: p.12
Psychotic behavior Disc. AE
1250 mg single, oral
Recommended
Dose: 1250 mg
Route: oral
Route: single
Dose: 1250 mg
Sources: Page: p.12
unhealthy
Health Status: unhealthy
Condition: Malaria
Sources: Page: p.12
Overview

Overview

CYP3A4CYP2C9CYP2D6hERG


OverviewOther

Drug as perpetrator​Drug as victim

Drug as victim

TargetModalityActivityMetaboliteClinical evidence
yes
yes
yes (co-administration study)
Comment: Co-administration of a single 500 mg oral dose of Lariam with 400 mg of ketoconazole once daily for 10 days in 8 healthy volunteers resulted in an increase in the mean Cmax and AUC of mefloquine by 64% and 79%, respectively, and an increase in the mean elimination half-life of mefloquine from 322 hours to 448 hours.
Page: 2.0
PubMed

PubMed

TitleDatePubMed
The effect of artemisinine, its derivatives and mefloquine against chloroquine-resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum in vitro.
1992 Jul-Aug
Design, synthesis, and pharmacological evaluation of mefloquine-based ligands as novel antituberculosis agents.
2007 Nov
Mefloquine neurotoxicity: a literature review.
2009 Jan
Idiosyncratic quinoline central nervous system toxicity: Historical insights into the chronic neurological sequelae of mefloquine.
2014 Aug
Patents

Sample Use Guides

Treatment of mild to moderate malaria in adults caused by mefloquine-susceptible strains of P. falciparum or by P. vivax: Dosage: Five tablets (1250 mg) mefloquine hydrochloride to be given as a single oral dose. The drug should not be taken on an empty stomach and should be administered with at least 8 oz (240 mL) of water. The recommended prophylactic dose of mefloquine is approximately 5 mg/kg body weight once weekly. One 250 mg mefloquine hydrochloride tablet should be taken once weekly in pediatric patients weighing over 45 kg.
Route of Administration: Oral
In Vitro Use Guide
Mefloquine inhibited chloroquine-resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum in vitro. The EC50 values for mefloquine were 46-185 nM. At higher concentrations, strains K1 and LS21 were fully inhibited, while with strain T996 mefloquine did not fully inhibit even at the highest concentration, 1.28 x 10(-6) M.
Name Type Language
MEFLOQUINE HYDROCHLORIDE
EP   MART.   MI   ORANGE BOOK   USAN   USP   USP-RS   VANDF   WHO-DD   WHO-IP  
USAN  
Official Name English
MEFLOQUINE HYDROCHLORIDE [USP MONOGRAPH]
Common Name English
MEFLOQUINE HYDROCHLORIDE [MART.]
Common Name English
RO-215998001
Code English
MEFLOQUINE HYDROCHLORIDE [WHO-IP]
Common Name English
MEFLOQUINI HYDROCHLORIDUM [WHO-IP LATIN]
Common Name English
NSC-157387
Code English
MEFLOQUINE HCL
Common Name English
MEFLOQUINE HYDROCHLORIDE [USP-RS]
Common Name English
4-QUINOLINEMETHANOL, .ALPHA.-2-PIPERIDINYL-2,8-BIS(TRIFLUOROMETHYL)-, MONOHYDROCHLORIDE, (R*,S*)- (±)-
Common Name English
DL-ERYTHRO-.ALPHA.-2-PIPERIDYL-2,8-BIS(TRIFLUOROMETHYL)-4-QUINOLINEMETHANOL MONOHYDROCHLORIDE
Common Name English
MEFLOQUINE HYDROCHLORIDE [VANDF]
Common Name English
RO-21-5998/001
Code English
MEFLOQUINE HYDROCHLORIDE [EP MONOGRAPH]
Common Name English
Mefloquine hydrochloride [WHO-DD]
Common Name English
RO-21-5998
Code English
WR-142490
Code English
LORIAM
Brand Name English
LARIAM
Brand Name English
MEFLOQUINE HYDROCHLORIDE [ORANGE BOOK]
Common Name English
MEFLOQUINE HYDROCHLORIDE [EP IMPURITY]
Common Name English
MEFLOQUINE HYDROCHLORIDE [USAN]
Common Name English
MEFLOQUINE HYDROCHLORIDE [JAN]
Common Name English
RO 21-5998/001
Code English
Classification Tree Code System Code
FDA ORPHAN DRUG 18687
Created by admin on Fri Dec 15 15:24:53 GMT 2023 , Edited by admin on Fri Dec 15 15:24:53 GMT 2023
NCI_THESAURUS C271
Created by admin on Fri Dec 15 15:24:53 GMT 2023 , Edited by admin on Fri Dec 15 15:24:53 GMT 2023
FDA ORPHAN DRUG 26287
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Code System Code Type Description
USAN
W-48
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PRIMARY
DRUG BANK
DBSALT000311
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PRIMARY
CAS
51773-92-3
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PRIMARY
EVMPD
SUB14492MIG
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PRIMARY
PUBCHEM
65329
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PRIMARY
NSC
157387
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PRIMARY
EPA CompTox
DTXSID1047819
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PRIMARY
NCI_THESAURUS
C47600
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PRIMARY
ChEMBL
CHEMBL416956
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PRIMARY
SMS_ID
100000076533
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PRIMARY
DAILYMED
5Y9L3636O3
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PRIMARY
FDA UNII
5Y9L3636O3
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PRIMARY
RS_ITEM_NUM
1379059
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PRIMARY
RXCUI
82130
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PRIMARY RxNorm
ECHA (EC/EINECS)
257-412-0
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PRIMARY
MERCK INDEX
m7142
Created by admin on Fri Dec 15 15:24:53 GMT 2023 , Edited by admin on Fri Dec 15 15:24:53 GMT 2023
PRIMARY Merck Index
WHO INTERNATIONAL PHARMACOPEIA
MEFLOQUINE HYDROCHLORIDE
Created by admin on Fri Dec 15 15:24:53 GMT 2023 , Edited by admin on Fri Dec 15 15:24:53 GMT 2023
PRIMARY Description: A white to slightly yellow, crystalline powder. Solubility: Very slightly soluble in water; freely soluble in methanol R; soluble in ethanol (~750 g/L) TS; sparingly soluble in dichloromethane R. Category: Antimalarial. Storage: Mefloquine hydrochloride should be kept in a tightly closed container, protected from light. Additional information: Mefloquine hydrochloride may exhibit polymorphism. It melts at about 260 ?C, with decomposition. Requirement: Mefloquine hydrochloride contains not less than 99.0% and not more than 101.0% of C17H16F6N2O,HCl, calculated with reference to the anhydrous substance.