prior to Coartem (Oral) Generic Name: artemether and lumefantrine (Oral route) ar-TEM-e-ther, loo-me-FAN-treen Overview Side Effects Dosage Professional Interactions More Pregnancy Warnings User Reviews Drug Images Support Group Q & A Compare Alternatives Pricing & Coupons Commonly used brand name(s) In the U.S. Coartem Available Dosage Forms: Tablet Therapeutic Class: Antimalarial Slideshow It s Buggin Me! How to Safely Use an Insect Repellent Uses For Coartem Artemether and lumefantrine combination is used to treat acute, uncomplicated malaria in patients who weigh at least 5 kilograms (11 pounds). It may be 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 treats malaria, a red blood cell infection transmitted by the bite of a mosquito. However, this medicine is not used to prevent malaria or to treat severe or complicated malaria. This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription. Before Using Coartem 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 this medicine, the following should be considered: Allergies Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine 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 (11 pounds). Geriatric Appropriate studies on the relationship of age to the effects of artemether and lumefantrine combination have not been performed in the geriatric population. However, geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of this medication in the elderly are not expected. 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 this medicine, 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 this medicine 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. Amifampridine Amisulpride Aurothioglucose Bepridil Carbamazepine Cisapride Dexamethasone Dronedarone Enzalutamide Fluconazole Fosphenytoin Ketoconazole Mesoridazine Nelfinavir Phenytoin Pimozide Piperaquine Posaconazole Primidone Rifabutin Rifampin Rifapentine Saquinavir Sparfloxacin St John's Wort Terfenadine Thioridazine Ziprasidone Using this medicine 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 Amprenavir Anagrelide Apomorphine Aripiprazole Aripiprazole Lauroxil Arsenic Trioxide Asenapine Astemizole Atazanavir Azithromycin Bedaquiline Blinatumomab Boceprevir Buserelin Ceritinib Chloroquine Chlorpromazine Ciprofloxacin Citalopram Clarithromycin Clomipramine Clozapine Conivaptan Crizotinib Cyclobenzaprine Dabrafenib Dasatinib Degarelix Delamanid Delavirdine Desipramine Deslorelin Deutetrabenazine Disopyramide Dofetilide Dolasetron Domperidone Donepezil Droperidol Efavirenz Erythromycin Escitalopram Etravirine Fingolimod Flecainide Fluoxetine Fosamprenavir Foscarnet Gatifloxacin Gemifloxacin Golimumab Gonadorelin Goserelin Granisetron Guselkumab Halofantrine Haloperidol Histrelin Hydroxychloroquine Hydroxyzine Ibutilide Idelalisib Iloperidone Imipramine Indinavir Ivabradine Lapatinib Leuprolide Levofloxacin Lopinavir Methadone Metronidazole Mifepristone Moxifloxacin Nafarelin Nelfinavir Nevirapine Nilotinib Norfloxacin Nortriptyline Octreotide Ofloxacin Ondansetron Paliperidone Panobinostat Pasireotide Pazopanib Pentamidine Perphenazine Pimavanserin Pitolisant Procainamide Prochlorperazine Promethazine Propafenone Protriptyline Quetiapine Quinidine Quinine Ranolazine Ribociclib Ritonavir Salmeterol Secukinumab Sevoflurane Sodium Phosphate Sodium Phosphate, Dibasic Sodium Phosphate, Monobasic Solifenacin Sorafenib Sotalol Sulpiride Sunitinib Tacrolimus Telaprevir Telavancin Telithromycin Tetrabenazine Tipranavir Tizanidine Toremifene Trazodone Trifluoperazine Trimipramine Triptorelin Vandetanib Vardenafil Vemurafenib Vinflunine Voriconazole Zuclopenthixol Using this medicine 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 this medicine 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 this medicine, or give you special instructions about the use of food, alcohol, or tobacco. Grapefruit Juice Other Medical Problems The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially: Bradycardia (slow heartbeat), severe or Heart attack, recent or Heart disease, severe or Heart rhythm problems (e.g., prolonged QT interval, congenital long QT interval), or a history of or Hypokalemia (low potassium in the blood) or Hypomagnesemia (low magnesium in the blood) Use is not recommended. May increase the risk of severe heart rhythm problems. Decreased food intake during treatment May increase the chance for this infection to return. Kidney disease, severe or Liver disease, severe Use with caution. The effects may be increased because of slower removal of the medicine from the body. Proper Use of Coartem Take this medicine 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. This medicine comes with a patient information insert. Read and follow the instructions in the insert carefully. Talk with your doctor if you have any questions. This medicine should be taken with food or drinks (e.g., milk, infant formula, pudding, porridge, or broth). This will help your body absorb the medicine. If you or your child are unable to swallow the tablet, it may be crushed and mixed with one or two teaspoons of water in a clean container. Keep using this medicine 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 this medicine 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 this medicine. 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 older than 16 years of age 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 this medicine, 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 this medicine, 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 Coartem 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 this medicine together with halofantrine (Halfan ), mefloquine (Lariam ), or quinine may increase the chance for more serious side effects. This medicine 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 this medicine. This medicine 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 this medicine. 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. This medicine 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 this medicine . Grapefruits and grapefruit juice may increase the effects of artemether and lumefantrine combination by increasing the amount of this medicine in your body. You should not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while you taking this medicine. Do not take other medicines, including prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements, unless they have been discussed with your doctor. Artemether and lumefantrine combination should not be taken with certain other medicines, including carbamazepine (Tegretol ), phenytoin (Dilantin ), rifampin (Rifadin , Rimactane ), or St. John's wort. Coartem 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 or stomach 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 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. Side Effects (complete list) The information contained in the Truven Health Micromedex products as delivered by Drugs.com is intended as an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatment. It is not a substitute for a medical exam, nor does it replace the need for services provided by medical professionals. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before taking any prescription or over the counter drugs (including any herbal medicines or supplements) or following any treatment or regimen. Only your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for you. The use of the Truven Health products is at your sole risk. These products are provided "AS IS" and "as available" for use, without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. Truven Health and Drugs.com make no representation or warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, usefulness or completeness of any of the information contained in the products. Additionally, TRUVEN HEALTH MAKES NO REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTIES AS TO THE OPINIONS OR OTHER SERVICE OR DATA YOU MAY ACCESS, DOWNLOAD OR USE AS A RESULT OF USE OF THE THOMSON REUTERS HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS. ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE ARE HEREBY EXCLUDED. Truven Health does not assume any responsibility or risk for your use of the Truven Health products. Copyright 2017 Truven Health Analytics, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Next Side Effects Print this page Add to My Med List More about Coartem (artemether / lumefantrine) Side Effects During Pregnancy Dosage Information Drug Images Drug Interactions Compare Alternatives Support Group Pricing & Coupons En Español 4 Reviews Add your own review/rating Drug class: antimalarial combinations Consumer resources Coartem Professional resources Coartem (AHFS Monograph) Coartem (FDA) Related treatment guides Malaria} Drug Status Rx Availability Prescription only C Pregnancy Category Risk cannot be ruled out N/A CSA Schedule Not a controlled drug 8 years Approval History FDA approved 2009 Manufacturer Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation Drug Class Antimalarial combinations Related Drugs Malaria doxycycline , hydroxychloroquine , clindamycin , Plaquenil , Cleocin , Vibramycin , quinine , Malarone , atovaquone , Monodox , quinidine , mefloquine , Qualaquin , Mepron , atovaquone / proguanil , Doryx , Lariam , Vibra-Tabs , primaquine , Doryx MPC , artemether / lumefantrine , pyrimethamine / sulfadoxine , More... Coartem Rating 4 User Reviews 9.8 /10 4 User Reviews 9.8 Rate it! Coartem Images Coartem artemether 20mg / lumefantrine 120mg (N C CG) View larger images Related Questions & Answers If you drink coartem when you have no malaria what are the side effects? Can a nursing and breast-feeding mother use coartem? Why is Doxycycline recommended with Coartem during and after finishing the course for malaria? Does one refrain from alcohol when on Coartem? Read more questions} } it is important
satisfaction Coartem (Oral) waiting for
EmoticonEmoticon