Definition

1. Noun:
   • An antimalarial drug: Mephaquine is a medication used to prevent and treat malaria, particularly strains resistant to chloroquine. It is known by the trade names Larium and Mephaquine. Its use is associated with potential serious neuropsychiatric side effects in some individuals.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The doctor prescribed mephaquine for the traveler going to a region with chloroquine-resistant malaria.
  • Due to concerns about side effects, the use of mephaquine requires careful medical evaluation.

Advanced Usage

• Clinical Context: The term is used primarily in medical, pharmacological, and public health contexts when discussing malaria prophylaxis and treatment options.
  • The guidelines recommend mephaquine as a second-line agent due to its side effect profile.

Variants and Related Words

• Larium: A common brand name for mephaquine.
• Mefloquine: The standard international non-proprietary name (INN) for the same drug compound. "Mephaquine" is a variant spelling/brand name.

Synonyms

• Mefloquine: The direct synonym, being the generic drug name.
• Antimalarial (drug): A general term for this class of medication.

Notes on Meaning

• The core meaning refers specifically to this pharmaceutical compound. It does not have general English meanings outside this medical context. Its primary distinguishing features are its efficacy against chloroquine-resistant parasites and its associated risk of neuropsychiatric effects.

Noun

1. an antimalarial drug (trade name Larium and Mephaquine) that is effective in cases that do not respond to chloroquine; said to produce harmful neuropsychiatric effects on some people