Pirimetamina
Pyrimethamine
Aminopyrimidine derivative
También conocido como: Daraprim · Malocide · Pirimecidan · BW-50-63 · pirimetamina · pyrimethaminum · RP-4753
Revisado por el equipo veterinario de VetSheetActualizado 5 abr 2026Referencia veterinaria basada en la evidencia
Las dosis son una referencia clínica para profesionales veterinarios autorizados. Confirme siempre con el prospecto actual y cada paciente individual.
Dosis por especie
🌎 NA — North America🌍 EU — Europe
Perros
| Indicación | Dosis | Vía | Frecuencia | Duración | Región |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toxoplasmosis | 0.5-1 mg/kg PO once daily for 2 days, then 0.25 mg/kg PO once daily for 2 weeks | PO | once daily | 2 days, then 2 weeks | 🌎 NA |
| Toxoplasmosis | 0.25-0.5 mg/kg once daily for 28 days | PO | once daily | 28 days | 🌎 NA |
| Neospora | 1 mg/kg once daily for 28 days | PO | once daily | 28 days | 🌎 NA |
| Hepatazoon canis | 0.25-0.5 mg/kg once daily for 2-4 weeks | PO | once daily | 2-4 weeks | 🌎 NA |
| Hepatazoon americanum | 0.25 mg/kg PO q24h | PO | q24h | — | 🌎 NA |
| Hepatazoon americanum | 0.25 mg/kg PO q24h for 14 days | PO | q24h | 14 days | 🌎 NA |
| Neosporosis | 1 mg/kg PO daily | PO | daily | — | 🌎 NA |
- Toxoplasmosis: Given with sulfadiazine at 30-50 mg/kg PO divided two to four times a day for 1-2 weeks
- Neospora: Given with trimethoprim sulfa
- Hepatazoon canis: Given with trimethoprim sulfa and clindamycin
- Hepatazoon americanum: Given with Trimethoprim/sulfa (15 mg/kg PO q12h) and clindamycin (10 mg/kg q8h). Once remission attained, decoquinate can maintain.
- Hepatazoon americanum: Given with Trimethoprim/sulfa (15 mg/kg PO q12h for 14 days) and clindamycin (10 mg/kg q8h for 14 days). Once remission attained, decoquinate can maintain.
- Neosporosis: Given with trimethoprim/sulfa (15-30 mg/kg PO twice daily).
Gatos
| Indicación | Dosis | Vía | Frecuencia | Duración | Región |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toxoplasmosis | 0.5-1 mg/kg PO once daily for 2 days, then 0.25 mg/kg PO once daily for 2 weeks | PO | once daily | 2 days, then 2 weeks | 🌎 NA |
| Toxoplasmosis (enteroepithelial cycle) | 2 mg/kg, PO once daily | PO | once daily | — | 🌎 NA |
| Toxoplasmosis (extraintestinal cycle) | 0.5-1 mg/kg PO divided two to three times daily | PO | divided two to three times daily | — | 🌎 NA |
| Protozoal myocarditis | 1 mg/kg PO once daily for 3 days, then decrease dose to 0.5 mg/kg PO once a day | PO | once daily | 3 days, then ongoing | 🌎 NA |
| Toxoplasmosis | 0.5 mg/kg PO per day | PO | per day | 7-10 days | 🌎 NA |
- Toxoplasmosis: Given with sulfadiazine at 30-50 mg/kg PO divided two to four times a day for 1-2 weeks
- Toxoplasmosis (extraintestinal cycle): Combined with sulfonamides (e.g., triple sulfa, sulfadiazine) at 60 mg/kg PO or IM divided two to three times daily
- Protozoal myocarditis: Given with sulfadimethoxine 25 mg/kg PO, IV, or IM once a day
- Toxoplasmosis: Given with sulfadiazine at 30 mg/kg, PO q12h. Do not use continuously for longer than 2 weeks. Supplementation with folic acid 5 mg/day or folinic acid 1 mg/kg/day may alleviate toxicity.
Aves
| Indicación | Dosis | Vía | Frecuencia | Duración | Región |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coccidian organisms in raptors (Toxoplasmosis, Atoxoplasmosis, Sarcocystis) | 0.5 mg/kg PO twice daily for 14-28 days | PO | twice daily | 14-28 days | 🌎 NA |
Caballos
| Indicación | Dosis | Vía | Frecuencia | Duración | Región |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis | 1 mg/kg PO once a day for 90-120 days (or longer) | PO | once a day | 90-120 days (or longer) | 🌎 NA |
- Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis: Given with a sulfa or potentiated sulfa (sulfadiazine 20 mg/kg PO once or twice a day). Monitor CBC's.
Las dosis son una referencia clínica para profesionales veterinarios autorizados. Confirme siempre con el prospecto actual y cada paciente individual.
Resumen
La pirimetamina es un potente agente antiprotozoario utilizado principalmente en medicina veterinaria para tratar infecciones protozoarias graves como toxoplasmosis, neosporosis y Hepatozoon americanum en animales pequeños, así como la mieloencefalitis protozoaria equina (EPM) en caballos. Casi siempre se utiliza en combinación con sulfonamidas para lograr un bloqueo sinérgico de la síntesis de ácido fólico.
Perla clínica: Debido a que actúa sobre el metabolismo del folato, la supresión de la médula ósea del huésped es un riesgo significativo, particularmente en gatos. A menudo se recomienda la suplementación con ácido folínico (no ácido fólico, que los protozoos a veces pueden utilizar) o levadura de cerveza para mitigar la toxicidad hematológica.
Mecanismo de acción
Pyrimethamine is a folic acid antagonist. It competitively inhibits the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) → blocks the reduction of dihydrofolic acid to tetrahydrofolic acid (the active form of folate) → depletes folate reserves essential for purine and pyrimidine synthesis → halts protozoal DNA and RNA synthesis.
When combined with sulfonamides (which inhibit dihydropteroate synthase earlier in the pathway), it produces a synergistic, sequential blockade of the folate synthesis pathway.
Seguridad y advertencias
Contraindicaciones
- Known hypersensitivity to pyrimethamine
- Preexisting hematologic disorders (use with extreme caution)
- Pregnancy (potentially teratogenic, weigh risks vs. benefits)
- Pregnancy (teratogenic)
- Pre-existing bone marrow suppression
Efectos adversos
- Small animals: Anorexia, malaise, vomiting, depression
- Small animals: Bone marrow depression (anemia, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia)
- Cats: Highly susceptible to adverse reactions (noted 4-6 days after starting combination therapy)
- Horses: Leukopenias, thrombocytopenia, and anemias
- Bone marrow suppression (anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia)
- Lethargy
Precauciones
Hematologic Toxicity: Hematologic effects can develop rapidly. Frequent monitoring is recommended, particularly if therapy persists longer than 2 weeks. Oral administration of folinic acid, folic acid, or Brewer's yeast has been suggested to alleviate adverse effects.
Feline Sensitivity: Some clinicians recommend avoiding its use in cats entirely because of its adverse effect profile.
Pregnancy: Pyrimethamine is teratogenic in rats and fetal abnormalities have been seen in foals. FDA Category C. Weigh risks against benefits. Excreted in maternal milk; consider using milk replacer.
Interacciones farmacológicas
Reportedly antagonistic towards the activity of pyrimethamine; clinical significance is unclear.
Synergistic with pyrimethamine in activity against toxoplasmosis and malaria.
Use with pyrimethamine/sulfa is not recommended in humans as adverse effects may be additive, however, this combination has been used clinically in horses.
May increase folate deficiency
May increase folate deficiency
Monitorización
- CBC with platelet count (frequent monitoring recommended)
- Clinical efficacy
- Signs of abnormal bleeding or lassitude
- Complete Blood Count (CBC) every 1-2 weeks
- Appetite and body weight
- Signs of bleeding, bruising, or lethargy
Farmacocinética
Vida media
Absorción
No pharmacokinetic data located for veterinary species. In humans, well absorbed from the gut after oral administration.
Distribución
Distributed primarily to the kidneys, liver, spleen, and lungs. Crosses the blood-brain barrier. Volume of distribution is about 3 L/kg. 80% bound to plasma proteins. Enters milk in levels greater than serum.
Metabolismo
Unknown how or where the drug is metabolized, but metabolites are found in the urine.
Eliminación
Excreted in the urine.
Sobredosis
Reports of acute overdosage in animals were not located. In humans, signs include vomiting, nausea, anorexia, CNS stimulation (including seizures), and hematologic effects.
Treatment recommendations:
- Standard procedures to empty the gut or prevent absorption.
- Parenteral barbiturates for seizures.
- Folinic acid for hematologic effects.
- Long-term monitoring (at least 1 month) of renal and hematopoietic systems.
Productos disponibles
Formulaciones
- Tablets: 25 mg
- 25 mg tablet
Etiquetado para humanos
- Pyrimethamine Tablets: 25 mg; Daraprim® (GlaxoSmithKline); (Rx)
- Daraprim 25 mg tablets
Estado regulador
Often used under the cascade from human medicine.
Listed as a Pharmacy (P) medicine in the provided monograph.
Sin datos reguladores para: 🇺🇸 US · 🇭🇰 HK · 🇹🇼 TW · 🇯🇵 JP · 🇰🇷 KR · 🇦🇺 AU
Almacenamiento y estabilidad
Store tablets in tight, light-resistant containers. Tablets may be crushed to make oral suspensions. If cherry syrup, corn syrup, or sucrose-containing liquids are used, store the suspension at room temperature and discard after 7 days (sugars adversely affect stability).
Información para el cliente
Importante: Este medicamento se utiliza para tratar infecciones parasitarias graves y requiere un seguimiento cuidadoso.
- Administre exactamente según lo indicado: A menudo se administra con otros antibióticos (como las sulfonamidas) para obtener el máximo efecto. No omita dosis.
- Esté atento a los efectos secundarios: Comuníquese con su veterinario de inmediato si su mascota se muestra letárgica, deja de comer, vomita o muestra signos de sangrado inusual o hematomas (como encías pálidas o puntos rojos en la piel).
- Desafíos de dosificación en gatos: Las tabletas comerciales son de 25 mg, lo que hace que la dosificación precisa para gatos sea muy difícil. Además, las tabletas tienen un sabor desagradable para los gatos. Es probable que su veterinario recomiende un líquido o cápsula formulado específicamente (compounded) para garantizar una dosificación precisa y más sencilla.
- Advertencia sobre el embarazo: No manipule este medicamento si está embarazada y no lo utilice en mascotas gestantes a menos que su veterinario lo indique explícitamente.
La referencia de medicamentos de VetSheet está destinada a profesionales veterinarios autorizados como ayuda para la toma de decisiones clínicas, no como sustituto del criterio profesional ni del prospecto actual del fabricante.