Atovaquone is a chemical compound that belongs to the class of naphthalenes. Atovaquone is a hydroxy-1,4-naphtoquinone, an analog of ubiquinone, with antipneumocystic activity.

Atovaquone is a medication used to treat or prevent:

1. Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP), although it is not approved for treatment of severe PCP.
2. Toxoplasmosis. The medication has antiparasitic and therapeutic effects.
3. Malaria. It is one of the two components (along with proguanil) in the drug Malarone. Malarone has fewer side effects than mefloquine, but can be more expensive because it's taken daily. (Source)

Trimotheoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX, Bactrim) is generally considered first line therapy for PCP or toxoplasmosis. However, atovaquone may be used in patients who cannot tolerate, or are allergic to, TMP-SMX. In addition, atovaquone has the advantage of not causing myelosuppression, which is an important issue in patients who have undergone bone marrow transplantation.

See also

• Molecular Basis for Atovaquone Resistance in Pneumocystis jirovecii
• Atovaquone (Meprone)

Antimalarial agents | Naphthalenes | Organochlorides

Atovaquon | Atovaquone