pyrimethamine

noun

py·​ri·​meth·​amine ˌpī-rə-ˈme-thə-ˌmēn 

: a folic acid antagonist C₁₂H₁₃ClN₄ used in the chemoprophylaxis or treatment of malaria and in the treatment of toxoplasmosis

Examples of pyrimethamine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Folate supplements can interact with several medications including methotrexate, sulfasalazine, anti-seizure medications, immunosuppressants, NSAIDs, barbiturates, diuretics, and pyrimethamine (an anti-malarial drug). — Lainey Younkin, Ms, Rd, Verywell Health, 22 Mar. 2024

Perhaps the most infamous example of a clinically effective, decades old generic drug that got transformed into a profit maker due to sky-high price increases is Daraprim (pyrimethamine). — Joshua Cohen, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2022

Several years later, Elion and Hitchings developed the anti-malarial agent pyrimethamine, which is now used primarily to treat a potentially fatal foodborne illness called toxoplasmosis. — Patrick Adams, National Geographic, 31 Aug. 2020

Daraprim, also known as pyrimethamine, is used to treat toxoplasmosis, a parasitic infection that can cause damage to the brain, eyes or other organs in severe cases, the FDA said. — Shelby Lin Erdman and Jamie Gumbrecht, CNN, 29 Feb. 2020

But these alternatives are shut down by the same mutations that make the parasites resistant to pyrimethamine. — Ed Yong, The Atlantic, 11 Dec. 2017

Word History

Etymology

pyrimidine + ethyl + amine

First Known Use

1952, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pyrimethamine

• acetylcysteine
• antisubmarine
• dichlorobenzene
• dimethylamine
• diphenylamine
• ethanolamine
• hydroxylamine
• isobutylene
• isoleucine
• mercaptopurine
• methylcholanthrene
• norepinephrine

Medical Definition

pyrimethamine

noun

py·​ri·​meth·​amine ˌpī-rə-ˈmeth-ə-ˌmēn 

: a folate antagonist C₁₂H₁₃ClN₄ that is used in the treatment of toxoplasmosis and in the prevention and treatment of malaria

Note: Pyrimethamine is marketed under the trademark Daraprim.