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Details

Stereochemistry RACEMIC
Molecular Formula C17H16F6N2O
Molecular Weight 378.3122
Optical Activity ( + / - )
Defined Stereocenters 2 / 2
E/Z Centers 0
Charge 0

SHOW SMILES / InChI
Structure of MEFLOQUINE

SMILES

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

InChI

InChIKey=XEEQGYMUWCZPDN-DOMZBBRYSA-N
InChI=1S/C17H16F6N2O/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/t12-,15+/m1/s1

HIDE SMILES / InChI

Description

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

Originator

Approval Year

Targets

Primary TargetPharmacologyConditionPotency
46.0 nM [EC50]

Conditions

ConditionModalityTargetsHighest PhaseProduct
Curative
MEFLOQUINE HYDROCHLORIDE

Cmax

ValueDoseCo-administeredAnalytePopulation
1018 ng/mL
750 mg single, oral
MEFLOQUINE plasma
Homo sapiens

AUC

ValueDoseCo-administeredAnalytePopulation
432 μg × h/mL
750 mg single, oral
MEFLOQUINE plasma
Homo sapiens

T1/2

ValueDoseCo-administeredAnalytePopulation
396 h
750 mg single, oral
MEFLOQUINE plasma
Homo sapiens

Funbound

ValueDoseCo-administeredAnalytePopulation
2%
MEFLOQUINE plasma
Homo sapiens

Doses

AEs

Overview

CYP3A4CYP2C9CYP2D6hERG


OverviewOther

Drug as perpetrator​

Drug as victim

Sourcing

PubMed

Sample Use Guides

In Vivo Use Guide
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.