ARTEMETHER

Indications & Dose:

Cerebral Malaria, Chloroquine resistant Plasmodium falciparum malaria, multidrug resistant malaria.

• BY MOUTH

Adults: Orally: 160mg in two divided doses on first day, followed by 80mg od for next 4 days. 80mg od for the next four days. 

BY INJECTION Inj: 80mg bd i.m on the first day then 80mg od for the next four days. Alternatively 80mg bd i.m inj. for 3 days can also be given.

Children:

BY INJECTION Inj: 1.6mg/kg twice a day by i.m Inj. on the first day and 1.6mg/kg once a day for next four days or 1.6mg/ kg twice a day by i.m Inj. for 3 days.

Syp: 4mg/kg body weight on day one.maintainance; 2mg/kg body weight per day for next 4 days.

Contraindications:

 Pregnancy, within two months.

Side Effects:

Low fever, rise of SGOT and SGPT, reticulocytopenia. Decrease in reticulocyte count, rise of ALAT and ASAT may occur. 

Cautions:

Precautions:

Not advisable to prescribe any medicine increasing QT interval, while pt. is on artemether therapy. Prescribed dose should not be exceed as QT prolongation has been reported in some cases.

Pregnancy: Avoid especially in 1st trimester (may be given if life-threatening cerebral malaria occurs).

Breast-feeding: Not known whether excreted in milk. Shake ampule before use. 

Interaction:

Drugs

Erythromycin, terfenadine, astemizole, quinidine, amiodarone, disopyramide, bretylium, bearidil, sotalol, TCAs should be avoided. 

Warnings:

Adverse Effects:

Lactations:

Special Precautions:

Counselling:

Side Effects Or Adverse Reactions:

Patient And Carer Advice: