ARTEMETHER/LUMEFANTRINE = AL oral

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    Prescription under medical supervision

     

    Therapeutic action

    • Antimalarial

    Indications

    • Treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria
    • Treatment of uncomplicated malaria due to other Plasmodium species, when chloroquine cannot be used
    • Completion treatment following parenteral therapy for severe malaria

    Forms and strengths

    • Co-formulated tablets of artemether/lumefantrine, in blister packs, for a complete treatment for one individual
    • There are 5 different blister packs corresponding to 4 different categories of weight:
      • 20 mg artemether/120 mg lumefantrine dispersible tablet, blister pack of 6 tablets
      • 20 mg artemether/120 mg lumefantrine dispersible tablet, blister pack of 12 tablets
      • 20 mg artemether/120 mg lumefantrine tablet, blister pack of 18 tablets
      • 20 mg artemether/120 mg lumefantrine tablet, blister pack of 24 tablets
      • 80 mg artemether/480 mg lumefantrine tablet, blister pack of 6 tablets

    Dosage and duration

    • The treatment is administered 2 times daily for 3 days. On D1, the first dose is given at 0 hour and the second dose at 8-12 hours. Subsequent doses on D2 and D3 are given 2 times daily (morning and evening).

     


    Weight
    20/120 mg tablet 80/480 mg tablet

    D1

    D2

    D3

    D1

    D2

    D3

    5 to < 15 kg

    1 disp tab x 2

    1 disp tab x 2

    1 disp tab x 2

    15 to < 25 kg

    2 disp tab x 2

    2 disp tab x 2

    2 disp tab x 2

    25 to < 35 kg

    3 tab x 2

    3 tab x 2

    3 tab x 2

    ≥ 35 kg

    4 tab x 2

    4 tab x 2

    4 tab x 2

    1 tab x 2

    1 tab x 2

    1 tab x 2

     

    Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions

    • May cause: headache, dizziness and gastrointestinal disturbances.
    • Administer with caution to patients taking drugs that prolong the QT interval: amiodarone, other antimalarials, antipsychotics, fluconazole, fluoroquinolones, hydroxyzine, macrolides, ondansetron, etc.
      re-administer the full dose. 
    • If the patient vomits within 30 minutes after administration: re-administer the full dose. If the patient vomits between 30 minutes and 1 hour after administration, re-administer half of the dose.
    • Pregnancy: no contra-indication
    • Breast-feeding: no contra-indication

    Remarks

    • Take with meals or a fat containing drink (e.g. milk).
    • Lumefantrine is also called co-artemether.

    Storage

     
    -
     
    - Below 30 °C
    Leave tablets in blisters until use. Once a tablet is removed from its blister, it must be administered immediately.