Artemether+lumefantrine
About
Artemether+lumefantrine belongs to the class of 'anti-malarial drugs', primarily used to treat and prevent malaria. Malaria is a disease caused by a plasmodium parasite, transmitted by the bite of infected Anopheles mosquitoes. When an infected mosquito bites a healthy person, it transmits the 'Plasmodium parasite' into the bloodstream, which affects the red blood cells and liver cells. Malaria symptoms usually start in 10 days to 4 weeks after the infection. They include chills, high fever, profuse sweating, headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, anaemia, muscle pain, convulsions, coma and bloody stools.
Artemether+lumefantrine contains two medicines, namely: Artemether and Lumefantrine. These are anti-malarial drugs that interfere with Plasmodium parasite's growth in the red blood cells of the human body. Artemether+lumefantrine is a combination that is used to treat non-severe malaria caused by a parasite called 'Plasmodium falciparum,' other Plasmodium species. It works by inhibiting nucleic acid and protein synthesis in Plasmodium falciparum. Artemether is known to reduce parasite biomass and Lumefantrine eliminates residual parasites.
Your doctor will decide the dose and duration based on your medical condition. Common side effects of Artemether+lumefantrine include headache, dizziness, loss of appetite, weakness, fever, chills, tiredness, muscle/joint pain, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, cough and trouble sleeping. These side effects are not familiar to everyone and vary individually. If you notice any side effects that are not manageable, please consult your doctor.
Before using Artemether+lumefantrine, inform your doctor if you recently used any prescription and non-prescription medications, including other anti-malarial or antibiotic drugs. Let your doctor know if you are allergic to Artemether+lumefantrine or its components. Inform your doctor if you have any liver or kidney problems, severe heart diseases and electrolyte imbalance. It is essential to let your doctor know if you are pregnant, planning to conceive or a breastfeeding mother. Avoiding alcohol is recommended to rule out any possibility of side effects.
Uses of Artemether+lumefantrine
Medicinal Benefits
Artemether+lumefantrine contains two anti-malarial drugs, namely: Artemether and Lumefantrine. It is a combination that treats non-severe malaria caused by a parasite called 'Plasmodium falciparum', other Plasmodium species. It interferes with the growth of Plasmodium parasites in the red blood cells of the human body. Artemether+lumefantrine works by inhibiting nucleic acid and protein synthesis in Plasmodium falciparum. Artemether reduces parasite biomass and Lumefantrine eliminates residual parasites.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Artemether+lumefantrine
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Loss of appetite
- Weakness
- Fever
- Chills
- Tiredness
- Muscle/joint pain
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Cough
- Trouble sleeping
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
Let your doctor know if you use any antibiotic drugs or have recently undergone treatment with other anti-malarial drugs. Brief your medical history to the doctor if you have any liver or kidney problems, malarial infection of the brain, lungs or kidneys, severe heart diseases and electrolyte imbalance. It is essential to inform your doctor if you have hypokalemia (low potassium levels) or hypomagnesemia (low magnesium levels) before starting Artemether+lumefantrine. Artemether+lumefantrine may affect QT prolongation that can cause serious fast/irregular heartbeat. Hence it is advised to inform your doctor if you have any heart-related problems like heart failure, slow heartbeat, QT prolongation in EKG or ECG (electrocardiogram), and a family history of heart diseases. It is essential to let your doctor know if you are pregnant, planning to conceive or a breastfeeding mother before starting Artemether+lumefantrine. Avoiding alcohol is recommended to rule out any possibility of side effects like dizziness or drowsiness.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interaction: Artemether+lumefantrine may interact with other anti-malarial drugs (mefloquine, quinine, quinidine), drugs treating abnormal heart rhythms (flecainide, amiodarone, sotalol, procainamide, disopyramide), antipsychotics (pimozide, ziprasidone), macrolide antibiotics (erythromycin), antibiotics (ciprofloxacin, moxifloxacin, rifabutin, rifampin), fits medicines (carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin), antifungals (ketoconazole, itraconazole), HIV drugs (delavirdine, efavirenz, nelfinavir, ritonavir), antidepressants (clomipramine, amitriptyline, imipramine), blood pressure drugs (metoprolol), depression medicines (St. John's wort) and birth control pills.
Drug-Food Interaction: Avoiding alcohol may improve the side effects of Artemether+lumefantrine. Grapefruit juice may affect the efficacy of Artemether+lumefantrine; hence please avoid it during treatment with Artemether+lumefantrine.
Drug-Disease Interaction: Before using Artemether+lumefantrine, let your doctor know if have any heart diseases, liver or kidney problems, malarial infection of the brain, lungs or kidneys, severe heart diseases, and electrolyte imbalance.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionAvoid alcohol while using Artemether+lumefantrine since it can worsen your side effects.
Pregnancy
cautionArtemether+lumefantrine is not recommended during the first three months of pregnancy. Your doctor may recommend other alternative medication. Please seek medical advice if you are pregnant or planning to conceive.
Breast Feeding
unsafeArtemether+lumefantrine is not recommended during breastfeeding. Once you have completed the course, you should wait at least one week before starting to breastfeed again. Please consult your doctor before taking Artemether+lumefantrine.
Driving
cautionArtemether+lumefantrine may make you feel sleepy, dizzy or generally weak. In such cases, do not drive or operate machinery.
Liver
cautionClose monitoring of patients with liver diseases while being treated with Artemether+lumefantrine is required. Let your doctor know if you have any history of liver diseases before using Artemether+lumefantrine.
Kidney
cautionTherapy with Artemether+lumefantrine is to be cautiously administered in patients with renal impairment. Let your doctor know if you have any history of kidney diseases before using Artemether+lumefantrine.
Children
safe if prescribedYour doctor will decide the dose based on your child's age and bodyweight.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Take nutritious food, including fresh fruits and vegetables that help in recovering from malarial fever.
- During malarial fever, the patient may experience appetite loss. In such cases, drink glucose water, fresh fruit juices and coconut water.
- Include high fibre foods like green leafy vegetables and fruits to aid digestion.
- Take proper rest to help your body relax and heal faster.
- Avoid or limit the intake of alcohol and caffeine.
Special Advise
- Let your doctor know that you are taking Artemether+lumefantrine if you are undergoing any medical tests.
- Regular monitoring of heart function with ECG or EKG is necessary.
- Liver and kidney function tests are recommended to rule out any chances of kidney or liver impairment.
- Artemether+lumefantrine may decrease the effectiveness of hormonal birth control such as pills, patch, or ring. This could cause pregnancy.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Malaria: It is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that enter the body through a mosquito's bite. This is a common disease in countries like Africa, South America and Southern Asia. This disease usually occurs when an Anopheles mosquito (infected with parasite 'Plasmodium') bites a healthy individual and transfers the parasite into the bloodstream. Parasites that cause malaria include Plasmodium vivax, P. ovale, P. malaria and P. falciparum. Malaria symptoms usually start in 10 days to 4 weeks after the infection. They include chills, high fever, profuse sweating, headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, anaemia, muscle pain, convulsions, coma and bloody stools.
FAQs
Artemether+lumefantrine contains a combination of anti-malarial drugs, Artemether and Lumefantrine. It treats malaria by interfering with Plasmodium parasite's growth in the red blood cells of the human body.
Artemether+lumefantrine may affect the heart rhythm and cause QT prolongation (heart muscle takes longer than usual to recharge between beats). This QT prolongation can cause serious fast/irregular heartbeat. Hence it is advised to inform your doctor if you have any heart-related problems like heart failure, slow heartbeat, QT prolongation in EKG or ECG (electrocardiogram) and a family history of heart diseases.
Artemether+lumefantrine is not recommended in cases of any liver or kidney problems, malarial infection of the brain, lungs or kidneys, severe heart diseases and electrolyte imbalance. Also, let your doctor know if you have recently undergone treatment with other anti-malarial drugs.
Take the missed dose as soon as possible. However, if it is time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule.
