Drugs potentially dangerous or obsolete or ineffective

ARTEMETHER injectable

ARTEMETHER injectable

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Therapeutic action

Antimalarial

Indications

Alternative to injectable artesunate (when it is not available) in the:

• • Treatment of severe malaria
  •  Initial treatment of uncomplicated malaria, when persistent vomiting precludes oral therapy

Forms and strengths, route of administration

• 80 mg in 1 ml ampoule (80 mg/ml), oily solution for IM injection. NEVER ADMINISTER BY IV ROUTE.

When the dose required is less than 1 ml, use a 1 ml syringe graduated in 0.01 ml.

Dosage and duration

• Child and adult:

3.2 mg/kg by IM injection on the first day followed by 1.6 mg/kg once daily

 

Weight	80 mg ampoule
	Loading dose	Maintenance dose
3-4 kg	0.2 ml	0.1 ml
5-6 kg	0.3 ml	0.15 ml
7-9 kg	0.4 ml	0.2 ml
10-14 kg	0.6 ml	0.3 ml
15-19 kg	0.8 ml	0.4 ml
20-29 kg	1.2 ml	0.6 ml
30-39 kg	1.6 ml	0.8 ml
40-49 kg	2 ml	1 ml
50-59 kg	2.5 ml	1.2 ml

 

• Treat parenterally for at least 24 hours (2 doses), then, if the patient can tolerate the oral route, change to a complete 3-day course of an artemisinin-based combination. If not, continue parenteral treatment once daily until the patient can change to oral route (without exceeding 7 days of parenteral treatment).

Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions

• May cause: gastrointestinal disturbances, dizziness.
• Pregnancy: no contra-indication
• Breast-feeding: no contra-indication

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