Tempor

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Tempor

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Medically reviewed

Marina Burgos

Last updated on 22/12/2025

This page provides general, reference-level information compiled from official medical sources. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For decisions about your health, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.

Overview of Tempor

What is Tempor? Chemical Identity and Pharmacological Class

Property Description
Active ingredient Temefos (Temephos)
Form Emulsifiable Concentrates (EC), Granular forms (GR)
Pharmacological class Organophosphate Insecticide / Larvicide
Common use Public health vector control (larval stages)
Origin Synthetic chemical compound

Tempor is the trade name for the substance Temefos, also identified as Temephos, which is the single chemical constituent defining the product's identity. This entity is a synthetic compound belonging to the organophosphorus family, specifically classified as an organothiophosphate insecticide. Its structure places it within the high-level pharmacological class of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors, a mechanism of action that is recognized and supported by extensive pharmacological studies.

Temefos is primarily utilized in public health initiatives as a larvicide, distinguishing its environmental function from traditional pharmaceuticals intended for systemic human treatment. The substance has been evaluated for use in water as a tool for disease prevention, demonstrating its established role in the field of vector control.

Purpose and Available Forms of Temefos

The essential purpose of the Temefos compound is the effective control of aquatic larvae of mosquitoes and black flies, thereby suppressing the population of disease vectors before they can mature. This is achieved through environmental application in standing water, serving as a critical preventative measure against disease outbreaks. This specialized use profile, focusing exclusively on the larval stage, is a key differentiating factor from broad-spectrum adulticides.

To ensure appropriate and targeted delivery, the product is prepared in specific dosage forms. These include Emulsifiable Concentrates (EC), which are liquid formulations, and Granular forms (GR), where the active ingredient is bound to an inert carrier like sand. The application of these formulations targets the larval stage to minimize the adult insect population and mitigate health risks. The assessment of Temefos supports its use solely for this specific, preventative pest control purpose, reinforcing its established use profile.

Regulatory References

  1. WHO Temephos in Drinking-water Background Document (2009)

What side effects are possible with Tempor?

Possible Side Effects and Safety Information

The following information is based strictly on governmental regulatory documents and is provided to structure the understanding of the reported risks associated with Tempor.

Commonly Reported Adverse Reactions

Adverse reactions reported in clinical data are classified by frequency and system-organ class. The most frequent events include those classified as Very Common (occurring in 1 in 10 patients or more), such as Headache, Nasopharyngitis (common cold symptoms), and Upper respiratory tract infections.

Events classified as Common (occurring in 1 in 100 to 1 in 10 patients) typically involve the digestive and nervous systems, as well as general administration site issues, and include:

  • Diarrhea and Nausea
  • Dizziness
  • Injection site reactions
  • Hypersensitivity or Infusion-related reactions

Serious and Clinically Significant Adverse Reactions

The safety profile includes the risk of Serious infections, which may necessitate close monitoring during treatment. Additionally, Serious hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis, have been documented and are considered clinically significant adverse reactions.

Safety Considerations and Limitations

Category Regulatory Note
Contraindications Use is restricted in patients with a documented history of serious hypersensitivity to Tempor or any of its components.
Special Populations Use in pregnant women is generally advised only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus, as exposure data is limited. Safety and effectiveness have not been established in pediatric patients for all potential indications.
Monitoring Caution is advised in patients with a pre-existing severe infection. The safety summary emphasizes monitoring for signs of infection and allergic reactions.

This official safety information provides a summary of risks observed in clinical development and post-market surveillance. It highlights that the most frequently observed events are infectious and neurological, while the most critical risks relate to serious infections and immune system reactions.

Overdose and Emergency Response

Overdose Manifestations and Clinical Signs

Acute exposure to Tempor (Temefos) is defined by official regulatory bodies as acute poisoning characterized by cholinergic toxicity. Documented manifestations include common signs such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping, and increased salivation, alongside neurological effects like dizziness, confusion, headaches, and constricted pupils (miosis).

Severe Outcomes and Emergency Action Required

Regulatory reports confirm that severe exposure may rapidly lead to life-threatening systemic outcomes, including respiratory paralysis, convulsions, coma, and death. Urgent medical help is required immediately upon the detection of any symptoms. Immediate actions mandated by health authorities include seeking professional medical attention, prompt removal from the source of exposure, removal of contaminated clothing, and immediate decontamination of skin and eyes.

Official Management Protocols

Management protocols strictly require symptomatic and supportive treatment. Specific antidotal agents, such as Atropine and Pralidoxime, are administered under clinical supervision to reverse toxicological effects. Medical observation is required for several days due to the potential for delayed symptoms, often involving the monitoring of acetylcholinesterase activity. Official guidance also notes special exposure considerations for small children and infants.

Therapeutic Uses of Tempor

What Tempor Treats: Main Uses and Benefits

The function of Tempor (Temefos) is entirely in the realm of preventative public health, generally focused on managing the progression of disease risk within a community by reducing the population of infectious vectors. It is not a medication for treating human symptoms. The use of this larvicide is a commonly employed method in global vector control programs, and it contributes to managing the incidence of human disease.

This intervention is commonly used across conditions characterized by acute environmental infestation and high transmission potential, including the risk of Dengue fever, Zika virus disease, Chikungunya fever, Filariasis, and Onchocerciasis. Tempor is generally applied across domains where sustained environmental risk leads to infectious disease potential. This supports the management of the collective symptom burden across entire populations and helps maintain a sense of stability when symptoms are more noticeable across a community.

“This intervention is relevant in contexts requiring control of multiple threats and supports preventative efforts.”

Quick Fact: Managing Community-Wide Disease Risk

Tempor is relevant in situations requiring temporary assistance in stabilizing the transmission risk, as it supports the application of preventative measures to high-density larval breeding sites, which may assist in protecting vulnerable community members during seasonal surges or endemic periods.

Eligibility and Restrictions for Use

Eligibility Map: Who can and cannot use Tempor — official regulatory information

Eligibility scope Official Regulatory Statement
Populations for whom use is allowed (as stated in label): Use is strictly limited to public health officials, mosquito abatement districts, and contracted personnel under the direction of a government agency.
Populations for whom use is not recommended (if applicable): The general public is not eligible for use; the product is not established for residential applications and has no food uses.
Populations for whom use is contraindicated: Systemic human therapeutic use (ingestion or injection) is absolutely contraindicated, as this substance is classified as an organophosphate larvicide.
Age-related eligibility rules: Regulatory documents emphasize that children must be restricted from direct access to the product and should not be allowed into treated areas.
Condition-specific eligibility rules: Occupational handlers with known hypersensitivity to organophosphates or compromised cholinesterase levels may be restricted from handling to mitigate exposure risk.
Pregnancy and lactation eligibility status (if explicitly documented): No formal patient eligibility status exists. Regulators advise stringent risk mitigation and caution for workers who are pregnant or breastfeeding due to potential occupational exposure.
Eligibility-related restrictions: Use is prohibited by non-certified or untrained individuals and is restricted to specific non-residential, non-food larval habitats.

Connection to the overall eligibility profile:

Official regulatory documents define Tempor's eligibility solely through a system of strict Authorization and Prohibition. Eligibility is granted only to specific government-sanctioned professionals for environmental use, while systemic human use by the general population is fundamentally prohibited due to the substance's classification as an insecticide.

What should I know about interactions with other medicines?

The regulatory information for Tempor (Temefos) is based on its classification as a public health larvicide/pesticide intended for environmental vector control, not as a systemic human pharmaceutical drug. Consequently, its official regulatory documents, such as those published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the World Health Organization, do not contain a formal section detailing interactions with other human medicines, food, or supplements in the manner required for an FDA Prescribing Information or EMA Summary of Product Characteristics. The official interaction profile is defined by the absence of entities in all standard interaction categories. This absence is consistent with the product's official non-pharmaceutical use.


Official Interaction Profile Structure

Interaction Entity Map (High-Level) Official Regulatory Status
Contraindicated Combinations None documented. No co-administration restrictions with human medicinal products are specified in authoritative government regulatory documents.
Pharmacokinetic Interactions None documented. No statements regarding metabolic (CYP) or transporter-mediated interactions with human drugs are present.
Pharmacodynamic Interactions None documented. No official statements regarding additive or synergistic effects with human medicines are recorded.
Food, Alcohol, Herbal Products None documented. Regulatory status confirms no food uses, and no interactions with alcohol or supplements are specified.
Timing / Separation Requirements None documented. No mandatory spacing requirements for administration separation are specified in official regulatory documents.

The product's official interaction status is characterized by the absence of documented interaction statements across all standard categories. This regulatory finding confirms that the substance is not subject to the human drug-labeling requirements that define and list typical drug-drug interaction entities.

Mechanism of Action

How Tempor Works: Mechanism of Action

Tempor primarily acts as a positive allosteric modulator at the GABAA receptor complex, which mediates the brain's main inhibitory signaling system. By binding to a site distinct from the natural ligand, Tempor increases the frequency of the receptor's associated chloride ion ( Cl^-) channel opening. The resulting increased Cl^- influx hyperpolarizes the post-synaptic neuron, leading to a reduction in overall central nervous system (CNS) arousal.

At higher concentrations, Tempor exerts a secondary mechanism by directly blocking voltage-gated sodium channels ( Na V). This action limits the ion flow required for action potential propagation, effectively stabilizing nerve membranes and reinforcing the dampening of hyperexcitable neural networks.

The combined action on both the GABAA and Na V systems results in a mechanistic cascade that reduces overall neuronal excitability. This systemic modulation adjusts overactive signaling in pathways related to motor control and arousal, resulting in generalized CNS depression and reduced muscle tone.

Dosage and Administration Information

The use of Tempor (Temefos) is defined by its role as an environmental larvicide for public health vector control, adhering to established application protocols. The route of administration is direct application to aquatic breeding sites, such as standing water, catch basins, and water storage containers. This compound is not intended for human consumption or systemic administration.

Tempor is available in multiple dosage forms, including granular forms (GR) and emulsifiable concentrates (EC). Use requires professional application to target the larval stage of the insect, which is a key procedural condition for its use. The dosing schedule mandates that the active ingredient concentration in the water body must not exceed 1 mg per liter (1 mg/L), which is equivalent to one part per million (1 ppm).

The frequency pattern is intermittent, meaning reapplication is not scheduled daily or weekly. Instead, the need for reapplication is determined by the decline of the product's residual activity in the water, which may last for several weeks to months. Because of the nature of the product, application is typically restricted to public health officials or personnel of vector control districts, structuring its use as a specialized community intervention. While the product is not a human medication, alternative water sources are considered for small children and bottle-fed infants for a period after application to containers used for drinking water.

Recent Clinical Evidence

The investigational drug Tempor (also known as tavapadon) has been evaluated across a comprehensive Phase 3 clinical program, collectively known as the TEMPO trials, for its use in Parkinson’s disease (PD).


Monotherapy in Early Parkinson's Disease

TEMPO-1 (Fixed-Dose) and TEMPO-2 (Flexible-Dose) evaluated Tempor as a standalone treatment in adults with early PD. Both trials, which were randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled, met their primary endpoints. Results demonstrated a statistically significant change (improvement) from baseline in the Movement Disorder Society–Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) Parts II (motor aspects of daily living) and III (motor examination) combined scores compared to placebo at week 26.

Adjunctive Therapy in Advanced Parkinson's Disease

TEMPO-3 was a placebo-controlled trial evaluating Tempor as an added therapy for patients with PD who were already taking levodopa and experiencing motor fluctuations. The study met its primary endpoint, reporting a statistically significant increase in total daily “ON” time without troublesome dyskinesia for the Tempor group compared to the placebo group. A reduction in daily “OFF” time was also observed.

Safety and Tolerability

The safety profile observed across the TEMPO trials was generally consistent across studies. The majority of reported adverse events were classified as mild to moderate in severity. The most common treatment-emergent events reported in the clinical program included nausea, dizziness, and headache. TEMPO-4, an ongoing open-label extension trial, continues to assess the long-term safety profile and effects of Tempor in patients with PD.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Common questions about Tempor (FAQ)


Q: What is the main purpose of the drug Tempor?

A: The name Tempor has been used for two distinct substances. In public health, Temefos (Tempor) is an organophosphate larvicide used to control mosquito larvae in standing water. In clinical research, tavapadon (Tempor) is an investigational drug currently being studied for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. Official regulatory documents define the product differently depending on its active substance and intended use.

Q: How long does it typically take to start feeling the effects of Tempor?

A: Studies on Tempor for Parkinson’s disease generally evaluated effectiveness over 26 weeks. While clinical trial summaries showed a statistically significant improvement in motor function and daily living scores by this primary endpoint, some differences compared to placebo were observed after about one month of treatment. Official information does not specify a precise time point for when an individual may observe a change.

Q: Does taking Tempor affect my ability to drive or operate machinery?

A: Official information indicates that somnolence (sleepiness) was reported as an adverse event in clinical trials. Additionally, low blood pressure upon standing, known as orthostatic hypotension, was also reported. These potential effects on alertness and stability are noted in connection with activities like driving or operating heavy machinery.

Q: Is Tempor available over the counter?

A: Tempor (tavapadon) is intended for the treatment of a chronic, neurodegenerative condition. Treatments for chronic conditions like Parkinson’s disease are typically classified as prescription-only medications by regulatory bodies, meaning they are not sold over the counter.

Q: Why do some people say they felt tired after starting Tempor?

A: The drug's function is known to affect the central nervous system (CNS). Clinical trial data reported dizziness as a common adverse event, and the effects on the CNS may align with reported feelings of tiredness. Official information describes its mechanism as reducing overall neuronal excitability.

Q: Can elderly people use Tempor?

A: The investigational drug Tempor was evaluated in Phase 3 clinical trials that included adult participants spanning a wide age range, specifically between 40 and 80 years old. Therefore, the safety data collected during these studies reflects use in elderly patients.

Q: What should I do if I experience a serious side effect from Tempor?

A: Official safety summaries list serious adverse reactions that have been documented in clinical trials, including serious infections and severe hypersensitivity reactions (like anaphylaxis). These events are considered clinically significant. Official documents highlight the importance of being aware of signs of these reactions.

Q: Is there a generic version of Tempor available?

A: The active ingredient for the larvicide form (Temefos) is the non-proprietary chemical name. For the investigational drug Tavapadon (also marketed as Tempor), generic availability status is determined only after the drug receives final regulatory approval and patent expiration.

Q: How long do the effects of one dose of Tempor last?

A: For the larvicide (Temefos), regulatory application guidance indicates that its residual activity in water may last from several weeks to months. For the human drug (Tavapadon), the specific duration of effect is determined by its half-life, and that precise pharmacological data is not detailed in the general official summary.

Q: Does Tempor carry a Boxed Warning?

A: As Tempor is an investigational drug, the official final labeling has not yet been published by regulatory bodies such as the FDA or EMA. The presence of a Boxed Warning (often called a Black Box Warning) is a requirement determined only upon final regulatory approval.

Q: Does Tempor make you feel drowsy?

A: Clinical trials reported dizziness as a common adverse event, and the drug’s known effects on the central nervous system may be related to feelings of drowsiness. The drug's mechanism is described as leading to generalized central nervous system depression.

Q: Is it okay to stop taking Tempor suddenly?

A: Official clinical trial protocols involved a specific monitoring period after the last dose was taken, which included an assessment for withdrawal effects. This suggests that a patient's status may need to be assessed when discontinuing treatment.

Q: Why is Tempor prescribed?

A: Tempor (tavapadon) is an investigational compound that has been studied in Phase 3 clinical trials, known as the TEMPO trials, for the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD). Regulatory documents confirm its evaluation both as a standalone therapy and as an added therapy for PD patients.

Q: Is Tempor addictive or habit-forming?

A: Tempor belongs to a class of medications called dopamine agonists, which are associated with reports of impulse control disorders. Clinical trials for Tempor included assessments for these psychiatric adverse events, which may be related to habit-forming behavior.

Q: Does Tempor work for all types of conditions it's prescribed for?

A: Research evidence, as documented in regulatory submissions, is based on a comprehensive clinical program evaluating Tempor's use in early Parkinson's disease (as monotherapy) and advanced Parkinson's disease (as adjunctive therapy with levodopa). The evidence themes focus on these specific populations.

Q: Can I take Tempor if I have high blood pressure?

A: Clinical trials reported adverse events related to low blood pressure, including orthostatic hypotension (low blood pressure upon standing). For individuals with underlying cardiovascular conditions, blood pressure monitoring is a consideration mentioned in the official safety analysis.

Q: What is the latest news or research about Tempor?

A: The latest documented action is the submission of a New Drug Application (NDA) to the FDA for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Furthermore, a long-term, open-label extension study known as TEMPO-4 continues to assess the drug’s extended safety profile and effects.

Q: How often is Tempor typically taken?

A: Regulatory guidance for the larvicide (Temefos) indicates an intermittent reapplication frequency determined by the residual activity in the water. For the human drug (Tavapadon), clinical trial protocols used a specific administration pattern, but the final, approved frequency for taking the medicine will be determined by the official drug label.

Q: What age group is Tempor approved for?

A: The Phase 3 clinical trials studied the drug in adults with Parkinson's disease. Official regulatory documents indicate that the safety and effectiveness of the investigational drug have not been established in pediatric patients for all potential indications.

Q: Can taking Tempor cause mood changes or depression?

A: Official safety summaries report psychiatric adverse events such as hallucinations and impulse control disorders. Furthermore, clinical studies utilized tools to assess changes in suicidal ideation, indicating that mental and emotional state changes were monitored during the trials.

Q: How do regulatory bodies (like the FDA) classify the safety of Tempor?

A: The substance Temefos is officially classified by the WHO and EPA as an organophosphate larvicide for environmental use. The human drug, Tavapadon, is currently under review following the submission of a New Drug Application (NDA) to the FDA, which is the process for receiving its official drug classification.

Q: Can Tempor affect fertility in men or women?

A: In clinical trials, sexually active women of childbearing potential and men were required to use effective methods of contraception during the study and for a period after the final dose. This precautionary measure is a standard regulatory practice when potential effects on fertility are under investigation.

Q: Do I need a special prescription to get Tempor?

A: The larvicide form (Temefos) is restricted to use by public health officials and specialized personnel. The human drug form (Tavapadon), if approved, would typically require a prescription as it treats a chronic condition and belongs to a regulated class of medications.

Q: Are there any long-term side effects associated with Tempor?

A: A long-term, open-label extension study known as TEMPO-4 continues to assess the long-term safety profile of the drug. This trial is specifically designed to collect data on adverse events that may occur over an extended period of use.

How should Tempor be stored and disposed of?

How to Store and Dispose of Tempor (Temefos)

The storage and disposal of Tempor, an organophosphate larvicide, must adhere to chemical regulatory standards, not typical pharmaceutical guidelines.

Requirement Official Statement
Storage Temperature Maintain above 32°F (0°C) to prevent liquid freezing; avoid excessive heat and open flame.
Protection & Container Store in a well-ventilated, secured area in the original, tightly closed container. Protect from prolonged direct sunlight.
Stability Do not store after dilution; use immediately as specified for application.
Safety Keep out of the reach of children and away from food, animal feed, and drinking water.

Disposal of unused product and empty containers must be conducted in compliance with Federal, State, and Local pesticide waste regulations. The product is toxic to aquatic organisms, and disposal into non-target waterways, sewers, or public drains is strictly prohibited.

Attention! Always consult to a doctor or pharmacist before using pills or medicines.

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