Artemether
Indications
Artemether is used for:
Malaria, Schistosomiasis
Adult Dose
Adult(IM) 80 mg twice daily for 1 day followed by 80 mg once daily for 4 days. Maximum dose: 480 mg for 5 days.
Child Dose
Children (IM): 3.2 mg/kg body weight /day in 2 divided doses followed by 1.6 mg/kg/day once daily for 4 days. Maximum dose: 9.6 mg/kg for 5 days.
Renal Dose
Administration
Contra Indications
Hypersensitivity.
Precautions
Pregnancy and lactation. Avoid concomitant use of drugs known to prolong QT interval or monitor such patients.
Pregnancy-Lactation
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.
Adverse Effects
Side effects of Artemether :
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.
Mechanism of Action
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.