Description

Artesunate is used to treat severe malaria.should always be followed by a complete treatment course of an appropriate PO antimalarial regimen

Dosage Modifications

• No specific dosage adjustments are needed for patients with renal or hepatic impairment
• No specific pharmacokinetic studies have been carried out in patients with renal or hepatic impairment
• Most patients with severe malaria present with some degree of related renal or hepatic impairment

Dosing Considerations

Limitations of use

• Does not treat hypnozoite liver-stage forms of Plasmodium and therefore does not prevent relapses of malaria caused by P vivax or P ovale
• Concomitant therapy with an antimalarial agent (eg, 8-aminoquinoline drug) is necessary for the treatment of severe malaria caused by P vivax or P ovale
  

  What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Artesunate?

   

  Common side effects of Artesunate include:

  • Loss of appetite on days 1-2
  • Dizziness on days 1-2
  • Nausea on days 1-2
  • Diarrhea on days 1-2

  Additional Side Effects of Artesunate can include:

  • Hives
  • Rash
  • Hemoglobinuria
  • Seizures
  • Neuropsychiatric reactions
  • Reversible neurologic changes

  This document does not contain all possible side effects and others may occur. Check with your physician for additional information about side effects.

   

  What Other Drugs Interact with Artesunate?

   

  If your doctor has directed you to use this medication, your doctor or our pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider or our pharmacist first.

  Artesunate has no listed severe interactions with other drugs.

  Artesunate has no listed serious interactions with other drugs.

  Artesunate has no listed moderate interactions with other drugs.

  Artesunate has no listed mild interactions with other drugs.

  This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your physician if you have health questions or concerns.

   

  What Are Warnings and Precautions for Artesunate?

   

  Warnings

  This medication contains artesunate. Do not take artesunate if you are allergic to artesunate or any ingredients contained in this drug.

  Keep out of reach of children. In case of overdose, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center immediately.

  Contraindications

  • Hypersensitivity to artemisinins

  Effects of Drug Abuse

  • No information available.

  Short-Term Effects

  • See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Artesunate?”

  Long-Term Effects

  • See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Artesunate?”

  Cautions

  • Rare, delayed post-artemisinin hemolytic anemia reported; monitor for up to 4 weeks after treatment; patients with higher parasitemias may be more prone to hemolytic anemia

  Pregnancy and Lactation

  Artesunate may be administered to pregnant women in the second and third trimesters. Data are limited for use of artesunate during the first trimester of pregnancy; no harmful effects have been observed.

  Animal studies: Artesunate causes fetal toxicity in rats and rabbits resulting in fetal resorption and abortion. There is a low incidence of cardiac malformations and skeletal defects also observed.