Patient Medication Information: uses, side effects, how to take - GLN-Atovaquone

What is GLN-Atovaquone used for:

GLN-Atovaquone is used to treat Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP).
You can get PCP when your lungs are infected with a fungus called Pneumocystis jirovecii.

How GLN-Atovaquone works:

This medicine prevents the fungus responsible for PCP from growing.

The ingredients in GLN-Atovaquone are:

Medicinal ingredient(s): Atovaquone

Non-medicinal ingredients: benzyl alcohol, citric acid, hypromellose, poloxamer 188 purified water, saccharin sodium, sodium citrate dihydrate, flavour (tutti frutti) and xanthan gum. Tutti frutti flavour contains artificial flavours, benzyl alcohol, dl-alpha-tocopherol, maltodextrin and propylene glycol.

GLN-Atovaquone comes in the following dosage form(s):

GLN-Atovaquone is a bright yellow liquid. It tastes sweet and fruity. Each bottle contains 210 mL of GLN-Atovaquone (750 mg/5 mL) and has a cap that children cannot open.

Do not use GLN-Atovaquone if:

You are allergic to atovaquone or to any of the ingredients in GLN-Atovaquone (Read also “The ingredients in GLN-Atovaquone are” above)

To help avoid side effects and ensure proper use, talk to your healthcare professional before you take GLN-Atovaquone. Talk about any health conditions or problems you may have, including if you:

Currently have diarrhea
Have kidney problems
Are pregnant or are planning to become pregnant
Are breastfeeding or are planning to breastfeed
Are over 65 years of age
Have had severe skin reactions with GLN-Atovaquone

Tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you take, including any drugs, vitamins, minerals, natural supplements or alternative medicines.

The following may interact with GLN-Atovaquone:

tetracycline, rifampicin, rifabutin, and cephalosporins, drugs used to treat bacterial infections
metoclopramide, a drug used to treat symptoms of slowed stomach emptying
acetaminophen, a drug used to relieve pain and reduce fever (also included in cold and flu remedies)
benzodiazepines and opiates (like codeine), drugs used to treat anxiety and pain
acyclovir, a drug used to treat herpes
medicines used to treat diarrhea
laxatives
zidovudine and indinavir, drugs used to treat HIV infection/AIDS

How to take GLN-Atovaquone:

It is important to drink GLN-Atovaquone with a meal. This will help the medicine to work properly. Drink it with your morning meal and your evening meal. If you can eat only one meal a day, take your whole daily dose with your daily meal. Before you pour each dose, shake the bottle gently.

Usual dose:

Drink 5 mL (one teaspoonful) of GLN-Atovaquone twice each day, with your meals. Take this medicine for 21 days (i.e. one 5 mL spoonful of medicine in the morning and evening with food).

If you can eat only one meal a day, drink 10 mL (two teaspoonfuls) of GLN-Atovaquone once each day with your meal. Take this medicine for 21 days.

Overdose:

If you think you, or a person you are caring for, have taken too much GLN-Atovaquone, contact a healthcare professional, hospital emergency department, regional poison control centre or Health Canada’s toll-free number, 1-844 POISON-X (1-844-764-7669) immediately, even if there are no signs or symptoms.

Missed dose:

If you missed a dose of GLN-Atovaquone, take it as soon as you remember (with a meal) and then take the next dose at the right time (again with a meal). Do not take more than 10 mL (two teaspoonfuls) a day in total.

Possible side effects from using GLN-Atovaquone:

These are not all the possible side effects you may have when taking GLN-Atovaquone. If you experience any side effects not listed here, tell your healthcare professional.

Side effects may include:

headache, fever
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, constipation
trouble sleeping, dizziness, feeling weak and achy
sweating, rash, itching, hives
thrush (yeast infection in the mouth)
eye problems
kidney problems

Side effects that may show up in a blood test:

low levels of sodium in the blood (hyponatremia)
changes in liver enzymes
low numbers of red blood cells (anemia), which can cause tiredness, headaches and shortness of breath
low numbers of white blood cells (neutropenia)
high levels of amylase (an enzyme produced in the pancreas)
high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia)
high levels of methemoglobin (a protein in the blood)
low numbers of platelets in the blood

Serious side effects and what to do about them

Frequency/Side Effect/Symptom		Talk to your healthcare professional			Stop taking this drug and get immediate medical help
Frequency/Side Effect/Symptom		Talk to your healthcare professional			Stop taking this drug and get immediate medical help
		Only if severe	In all cases
		Only if severe	In all cases
Common
Hypersensitivity (allergic) reaction: hives, swelling, difficulty in breathing, throat tightness						✓
Very Rare
Severe Skin Reactions: Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS): flu-like symptoms with a rash, fever, swollen glands, and abnormal blood test results.						✓
Unknown
Serious skin reactions: erythema multiforme. This is a skin rash. It may						✓
	blister. It looks like small targets (central dark spots, surrounded by a paler area with a dark ring around the edge). Stevens-Johnson syndrome. This is a widespread rash. Blisters will form. The skin will peel, particularly around the mouth, nose, eyes and genitals.
Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas): sudden pain in the upper area of the abdomen (belly), nausea/vomiting, fever, sweating, yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes				✓
Hepatitis (inflammation of the liver): yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes, dark or tea-coloured urine, pale-coloured stools (bowel movements), nausea/ vomiting, loss of appetite, pain, aching or tenderness on right side below the ribs						✓

If you have a troublesome symptom or side effect that is not listed here or becomes bad enough to interfere with your daily activities, tell your healthcare professional.

Reporting side effects

You can report any suspected side effects associated with the use of health products to Health Canada by:

Visiting the Web page on Adverse Reaction Reporting (canada.ca/drug-device-reporting) for information on how to report online, by mail or by fax; or
Calling toll-free at 1-866-234-2345.

NOTE: Contact your healthcare professional if you need information about how to manage your side effects. The Canada Vigilance Program does not provide medical advice.

Storage:

Store this medicine at room temperature, between 15°C and 30°C in a tight, light-resistant container. Do not freeze.

Keep out of reach and sight of children

If you want more information about GLN-Atovaquone:

Talk to your healthcare professional.
Find the full product monograph that is prepared for healthcare professionals and includes the Patient Medication Information by visiting the Health Canada Drug Product Database website (https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/drug-products/drug-product-database.html); the manufacturer’s website https://glenmarkpharma.ca/, or by calling Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. at 1-844-801-7468.

Date of Authorization: 2026-09-09

Rx or OTC	Prescription (Rx)?
DIN	02528495
Schedule(s)	PRESCRIPTION
Active ingredient(s)	Atovaquone 750 MG
Dosage form(s)	Suspension
Route(s) of administration	Oral
Drug class (WHO ATC)	P Antiparasitic products, insecticides and repellents P01 Antiprotozoals P01A Agents against amoebiasis and other protozoal diseases P01AX Other agents against amoebiasis and other protozoal diseases P01AX06 Atovaquone
Company	GLENMARK PHARMACEUTICALS CANADA INC.
Current status	Marketed
Current status date	June 30, 2022

GLN-Atovaquone: Uses, Side Effects and Dosage