artemether injection 20mg/1ml, 6ampoules/box
Indications
Artemether Injection is indicated for the treatment of malaria in children and in adults caused by all species of Plasmodium, including severe malaria caused by multiple drug resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum.
Dosage and Administration
Dosage:
The dosage depends on the severity of the case and the clinical state of the patient.
1.Loading dose for children and adults: 3.2 mg/kg body weight administered as a single intramuscular injection on the first day.
2.Maintenance dose for children and adults: 1.6 mg/kg/day administered as intramuscular injection once a day during the following four days.
Usage:
Artemether Injection is given by intramuscular injection in the gluteal muscle or the quadriceps. Combining other substances in the same syringe should be not be done.
Contraindications:
patients with known hypersensitivity to the active substance artemether, to any other artemisinin derivative or to the excipient.
Precautions & Warning:
1.Resistance of Plasmodium to artemether has not been observed.
2.Caution is advised in treating patients with signs of meningitis as a marked increase in the concentration of artemether in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with meningitis has been observed.
3.Rectal administration of artemether for children and babies can be considered when vomiting is a prominent symptom of malaria, or when levels of consciousness are diminishing, or in comatose states.
Adverse Reactions:
1.Intramuscular artemether is generally well-tolerated and, at the recommended dose, adverse events are usually not reported.
2.Laboratory abnormalities such as increase in transaminases and decrease in reticulocyte count are rare and transient and usually without clinical manifestations.
3.A decrease in sinus frequency without changes in the electrocardiogram has also been reported.
4.At high doses, transient abdominal pain, tinnitus and diarrhoea have been described.
Drug interactions:
1.In studies performed with Artemether Injection, no specific drug interactions were observed.
2.Artemether potentialises the antimalarial activity of other antimalarials.
3.Artemether is metabolised predominantly by the cytochrome enzyme CYP3A4, but does not inhibit this enzyme at therapeutic concentrations.
4.Combined use with inhibitors and/or inducers of CYP3A4 will not have an effect on the antimalarial activity but could alter the ratio of artemether to dihydroartemisinin.
Storage instructions:
Store below 30°C , protect from light.