Free Article Directory Liberia: artemether and lumefantrine

ar-TEM-e-ther, loo-me-FAN-treen

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

Coartem

Available Dosage Forms:

Tablet

Uses For artemether and lumefantrine

Artemether and lumefantrine combination is used to treat malaria in patients who weigh at least 5 kilograms (kg) (11 pounds [lbs]). It is also used to treat malaria infections in areas or regions where it is known that other medicines (e.g., chloroquine) may not work.

Artemether and lumefantrine combination belongs to a group of medicines known as antimalarials. It works by treating malaria, a red blood cell infection transmitted by the bite of a mosquito. However, artemether and lumefantrine is not used to prevent or treat severe or complicated malaria.

artemether and lumefantrine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Before Using artemether and lumefantrine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For artemether and lumefantrine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to artemether and lumefantrine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of artemether and lumefantrine combination in children. However, safety and efficacy have not been established in children weighing less than 5 kilograms (kg) (11 pounds [lbs]).

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of artemether and lumefantrine combination in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related heart, liver, or kidney problems, which may require caution in patients receiving artemether and lumefantrine combination.

Pregnancy

	Pregnancy Category	Explanation
All Trimesters	C	Animal studies have shown an adverse effect and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women OR no animal studies have been conducted and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking artemether and lumefantrine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using artemether and lumefantrine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

Aurothioglucose

Cisapride

Dronedarone

Fluconazole

Mesoridazine

Pimozide

Posaconazole

Sparfloxacin

Thioridazine

Using artemether and lumefantrine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Alfuzosin

Amiodarone

Amitriptyline

Amoxapine

Apomorphine

Arsenic Trioxide

Asenapine

Astemizole

Azithromycin

Chloroquine

Chlorpromazine

Ciprofloxacin

Citalopram

Clarithromycin

Clomipramine

Clozapine

Crizotinib

Dasatinib

Desipramine

Disopyramide

Dofetilide

Dolasetron

Droperidol

Erythromycin

Flecainide

Gatifloxacin

Gemifloxacin

Granisetron

Halofantrine

Haloperidol

Ibutilide

Imipramine

Lapatinib

Levofloxacin

Lopinavir

Methadone

Moxifloxacin

Nilotinib

Norfloxacin

Nortriptyline

Octreotide

Ofloxacin

Ondansetron

Paliperidone

Pazopanib

Perflutren Lipid Microsphere

Procainamide

Prochlorperazine

Promethazine

Propafenone

Protriptyline

Quetiapine

Quinidine

Quinine

Ranolazine

Salmeterol

Saquinavir

Sodium Phosphate

Sodium Phosphate, Dibasic

Sodium Phosphate, Monobasic

Solifenacin

Sorafenib

Sotalol

Sunitinib

Telavancin

Telithromycin

Terfenadine

Tetrabenazine

Toremifene

Trazodone

Trifluoperazine

Trimipramine

Vandetanib

Vardenafil

Vemurafenib

Voriconazole

Ziprasidone

Using artemether and lumefantrine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Mefloquine

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using artemether and lumefantrine with any of the following is usually not recommended, but may be unavoidable in some cases. If used together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use artemether and lumefantrine, or give you special instructions about the use of food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Grapefruit Juice

Proper Use of artemether and lumefantrine

Take artemether and lumefantrine exactly as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered.

artemether and lumefantrine comes with a patient information insert. Read and follow the instructions in the insert carefully. Talk with your doctor if you have any questions.

artemether and lumefantrine should be taken with food or drinks (e.g., milk, infant formula, pudding, porridge, or broth). This may help to easily absorb the medicine in the body.

If you or your child are unable to swallow the tablets, it may be crushed and mixed with one or two teaspoons of water in a clean container.

Grapefruits and grapefruit juice may increase the effects of artemether and lumefantrine combination by increasing the amount of artemether and lumefantrine in your body. You should not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while you taking artemether and lumefantrine.

Keep using artemether and lumefantrine for the full treatment time, even if you feel better after the first few doses. Your infection may not clear up if you stop using the medicine too soon.

Dosing

The dose of artemether and lumefantrine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of artemether and lumefantrine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

For oral dosage form (tablets):
- For the treatment of malaria:
  - Adults and children weighing 35 kilograms (kg) (77 pounds [lbs]) of body weight or more—At first, 4 tablets as a single dose, then one dose (4 tablets) after 8 hours. On days 2 and 3, take one dose (4 tablets) two times a day (each in the morning and evening). This 3-day treatment schedule should have a total of 24 tablets in six doses.
  - Children weighing 25 kg (55 lbs) to less than 35 kg (77 lbs) of body weight—At first, 3 tablets as a single dose, then one dose (3 tablets) after 8 hours. On days 2 and 3, take one dose (3 tablets) two times a day (each in the morning and evening). This 3-day treatment schedule should have a total of 18 tablets in six doses.
  - Children weighing 15 kg (33 lbs) to less than 25 kg (55 lbs) of body weight—At first, 2 tablets as a single dose, then one dose (2 tablets) after 8 hours. On days 2 and 3, take one dose (2 tablets) two times a day (each in the morning and evening). This 3-day treatment schedule should have a total of 12 tablets in six doses.
  - Children weighing 5 kg (11 lbs) to less than 15 kg (33 lbs) of body weight—At first, 1 tablet as a single dose, then one dose (1 tablet) after 8 hours. On days 2 and 3, take one dose (1 tablet) two times a day (each in the morning and evening). This 3-day treatment schedule should have a total of 6 tablets in six doses.
  - Children weighing less than 5 kg of body weight—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of artemether and lumefantrine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

If you or your child vomit within 1 to 2 hours of taking artemether and lumefantrine, take another dose. If you vomit the second dose, tell your doctor right away. You may need to use a different medicine to treat your condition.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Precautions While Using artemether and lumefantrine

It is important that your doctor check your progress after treatment. This is to make sure that the infection is cleared up completely, and to allow your doctor to check for any unwanted effects.

If your symptoms do not improve within a few days or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

Tell your doctor if you have used other medicines to treat your malaria infection. Using artemether and lumefantrine together with halofantrine (Halfan®), mefloquine (Lariam®), quinine, or quinidine (Quinidex®) may increase the chance for more serious side effects.

artemether and lumefantrine can cause changes in heart rhythms, such as a condition called QT prolongation. It may change the way your heart beats and cause fainting or serious side effects in some patients. Call your doctor right away if you have any symptoms of heart rhythm problems, such as fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeats.

Check with your doctor right away if you have flu-like symptoms (such as chills, fever, headache, or muscle pains) again after treatment with artemether and lumefantrine.

artemether and lumefantrine may cause serious allergic reactions. Call your doctor right away if you have a rash; itching; hives; hoarseness; trouble with breathing; trouble with swallowing; or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth while you are using artemether and lumefantrine.

Malaria is spread by the bites of certain kinds of infected female mosquitoes. If you are living in or will be traveling to an area where there is a chance of getting malaria, the following mosquito-control measures will help to prevent infection:

If possible, avoid going out between dusk and dawn because it is at these times that mosquitoes most commonly bite.

Wear long-sleeved shirts and long trousers to protect your arms and legs, especially from dusk through dawn when mosquitoes are out.

Apply insect repellant, preferably one containing DEET, to uncovered areas of the skin from dusk through dawn when mosquitoes are out.

If possible, sleep in a screened or air-conditioned room or under mosquito netting sprayed with insecticide to avoid being bitten by malaria-carrying mosquitoes.

Use mosquito coils or sprays to kill mosquitoes in living and sleeping quarters during evening and nighttime hours.

artemether and lumefantrine may decrease the effects of birth control pills or transdermal patches. To avoid an unwanted pregnancy, it is a good idea to use additional contraceptive measures with your pills or patches (e.g., condoms, a diaphragm, or a contraceptive foam or jelly) while using artemether and lumefantrine.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor (especially medicines that prolong QT interval). This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

artemether and lumefantrine Side Effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

Abdominal or stomach pain

chills

cough

fast, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse

fever

headache

muscle aches

pale skin

right upper abdominal pain and fullness

sore throat

stuffy or runny nose

troubled breathing with exertion

unusual bleeding or bruising

unusual tiredness or weakness

Less common

Accumulation of pus

acid or sour stomach

belching

black, tarry stools

bladder pain

blood in the urine

bloody or cloudy urine

body aches or pain

change in hearing

chest pain

cloudy urine

convulsions

cough producing mucus

decreased urine

diarrhea

difficult, burning, or painful urination

difficulty with breathing

difficulty with swallowing

dizziness

dry mouth

ear congestion

ear drainage

earache or pain in the ear

frequent urge to urinate

general feeling of discomfort or illness

heartburn

increased thirst

indigestion

joint pain

loss of appetite

loss of voice

lower back or side pain

mood changes

muscle pain or cramps

nasal congestion

nausea or vomiting

noisy breathing

numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, or lips

red rash with watery, yellow-colored, or pus filled blisters

shivering

shortness of breath

sneezing

sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth

stomach discomfort, upset, or pain

sweating

swollen glands

swollen, red, tender area of infection

thick yellow to honey-colored crusts

tightness in the chest

troubled with sleeping

wheezing

Incidence not known

Large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

Difficulty with moving

lack or loss of strength

muscle aching or cramping

muscle pain or stiffness

sleeplessness

unable to sleep

weight loss

Less common

Back pain

burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings

burning, dry, or itching eyes

continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in the ears

difficulty having a bowel movement (stool)

discharge or excessive tearing

dizziness or lightheadedness

feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings

hearing loss

hives or welts

redness of the skin

redness, pain, swelling of the eye, eyelid, or inner lining of the eyelid

sensation of spinning

shakiness and unsteady walk

shakiness in the legs, arms, hands, or feet

trembling or shaking of the hands or feet

uncontrolled eye movements

unsteadiness, trembling, or other problems with muscle control or coordination

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

See also: artemether and lumefantrine side effects (in more detail)

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More artemether and lumefantrine resources

Artemether and lumefantrine Side Effects (in more detail)
Artemether and lumefantrine Dosage
Artemether and lumefantrine Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Artemether and lumefantrine Drug Interactions
Artemether and lumefantrine Support Group
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Free Article Directory Liberia

Saturday, 30 June 2012

artemether and lumefantrine