Artemether: Indication, Dosage, Side Effect, Precaution

Generic Medicine Info Patient Medicine Information

This information is not country-specific. Please refer to the Myanmar prescribing information.

Generic Medicine Info

Indications and Dosage

Oral
Acute uncomplicated falciparum malaria

Adult: 80 mg daily, to be taken with lumefantrine 480 mg daily. Doses to be taken at diagnosis and repeated after 8, 24, 36, 48 and 60 hr. Total doses: 6.
Child: Daily doses based on body wt: 5-14 kg: 20 mg with lumefantrine 120 mg; 15-24 kg: 40 mg with lumefantrine 240 mg; 25-34 kg: 60 mg with lumefantrine 360 mg and >34 kg: 80 mg with lumefantrine 480 mg. Doses to be taken at diagnosis and repeated after 8, 24, 36, 48 and 60 hr. Total doses: 6.

Administration

Should be taken with food.

Contraindications

Hypersensitivity.

Special Precautions

Pregnancy and lactation. Avoid concomitant use of drugs known to prolong QT interval or monitor such patients.

Adverse Reactions

Mild GI disturbance, dizziness, tinnitus, reduction in reticulocyte and leucocyte counts, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, bradycardia, 1st-degree heart block, transient increase in serum transaminases.

Drug Interactions

Artemether causes QT prolongation in some patients. Thus concomitant use of erythromycin, terfenadine, procainamide, quinidine, disopyramide, amiodarone, bretylium, bepridil, sotalol, astemizole, probucol, tricyclic antidepressants, phenothiazines may be avoided.

Action

Description: Artemether is a potent and rapidly acting blood schizontocide, which is highly efficacious in treating chloroquine-resistant falciparum malaria, and complicated falciparum malaria including cerebral malaria. Its quick onset of effect and high efficacy in bringing down the parasite load are the properties which make this drug a suitable therapeutic option against falciparum infection.
Pharmacokinetics:
Metabolism: Rapidly hydrolysed to the active metabolite dihydroartemisinin.
Excretion: Elimination half-life: about 4-11 hr after IM or oral admin.

Storage

Store below 30°C.

MIMS Class

Antimalarials

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