Atovaquone may cause side effects (abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, rash) that requires cessation of therapy.
Vomiting and diarrhea may decrease drug absorption, resulting in therapeutic failure.
However, readministration of this drug within an hour of vomiting may still be effective in patients with P.falciparum malaria.
Atovaquone occasionally causes transient elevations of serum transaminase or amylase
Although atovaquone is generally considered to be safe,
it needs further evaluation in children weighing less than 11kg, Pregnant women, and lactacting mothers.
Since 99% of the drug is bound to plasma protein, it may compete with certain drugs for binding to plasma proteins.