Mepron and Food

Food significantly enhances the absorption of atovaquone. You should take each dose of atovaquone at the same time each day with a meal or a milky drink. If you receive enteral nutrition (tube feeding), take atovaquone with your feeding. Taking it on an empty stomach may lead to inadequate blood levels and reduced effectiveness of the medication. Talk to your doctor if you have questions or have difficulty taking atovaquone with food.

ADJUST DOSING INTERVAL: Food, particularly high-fat food, significantly enhances the oral absorption and bioavailability of atovaquone. In 16 healthy volunteers, administration of a single 750 mg dose of atovaquone suspension following a standard breakfast (23 g fat: 610 kCal) resulted in an approximately 3.4-fold increase in the mean peak plasma concentration (Cmax) and a 2.5-fold increase in the mean area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) of atovaquone compared to administration following an overnight fast. In a study consisting of 19 HIV-infected volunteers receiving atovaquone suspension 500 mg/day, Cmax and AUC of atovaquone increased by 72% and 66%, respectively, in the fed state relative to the fasting state.

MANAGEMENT: To ensure maximal oral absorption, atovaquone products (suspension, tablet, or in combination with proguanil) should be administered with a meal or milky drink, or enteral nutrition at the same time(s) each day. Because plasma atovaquone concentrations have been shown to correlate with the likelihood of successful treatment and in some cases, survival, alternative therapies may be appropriate for patients who have difficulty taking atovaquone with food.