Therapeutic Action
Antimalarial
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Drug reference
Antimalarial
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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
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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. 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
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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
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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). 20/120 mg tablet 80/480 mg tablet Weight D1 D2 D3 D1 D2 D3 5 to < 15 kg 1 disp tab x 1 disp tab x 1 disp tab x – – – 2 2 2 15 to < 25 2 disp tab x 2 disp tab x 2 disp tab x – – – kg 2 2 2 25 to < 35 3 tab x 2 3 tab x 2 3 tab x 2 – – – kg ≥ 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
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Take with meals or a fat containing drink (e.g. milk). Lumefantrine is also called co-artemether.
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- - Below 30 °C Leave tablets in blisters until use. Once a tablet is removed from its blister, it must be administered immediately.
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