Generic Name: combination of artemether and lumefantrine Brand Name: Coartem Dosage form : tablet Manufuctuing: Novartis is used to treat a parasitic disease of falciparum (malaria): characterized by fever, chills, and anemi

Artemether is absorbed quickly; peak concentrations of artemether and its main active metabolite, dihydroartemisinin (DHA) occur at approximately two hours post-dose, leading to a rapid reduction in asexual parasite mass and a prompt resolution of symptoms. Lumefantrine is absorbed and cleared more slowly (terminal elimination half-life 3-4 days in malaria patients), and accumulates with successive doses, acting to prevent recrudescence by destroying any residual parasites that remain after artemether and DHA have been cleared from the body Fixed-dose combinations work as the partner drug is present to eradicate the last parasites while the artemisinin component removes the majority at the start of the treatment.

This fixed-dose combination is of great benefit to patients :as it - -facilitates treatment compliance and - -supports optimal clinical effectiveness. ****is used only to treat malaria. Do not use to prevent Artemisinins are not used for malaria prophylaxis (prevention) because of the extremely short activity (half-life) of the drug. To be effective, it would have to be administered multiple times each day.half-life

**Coartem is the current gold standard to treat malaria in areas of high resistance to conventional anti- malarials ( sulfadoxinepyrimethamine and amodiaquine ) and is as such a life- saving drug

Take Coartem with food, milk, oatmeal, or broth. The tablet may be crushed and mixed with 1 or 2 teaspoons of water for easier swallowing. You may also mix a crushed tablet with infant pudding when giving this medication to a child. Note : a meal with only a small amount of fat (1.6 g) is considered sufficient to achieve adequate exposure to lumefantrine Start eating normally as soon as possible to help your body better absorb the medication. ***-Coartem doses are based on weight and age. ***In addition to taking Coartem, use protective clothing, insect repellents, and mosquito netting around your bed to further prevent mosquito bites that could cause malaria

COMMEN; Abdominal or stomach pain chills cough irregular heartbeat fever headache muscle aches pale skin sore throat runny nose

LESS COMMEN; Accumulation of pus acid or sour stomach black, tarry stools bloody or cloudy urine convulsions diarrhea loss of appetite mood changes nausea or vomiting

-antiviral drug -ketoconazoles -antibiotic such as clarithromycin, erythromycin, moxifloxacin, pentamidine; -antidepressant such as clomipramine, or desipramine; -heart rhythm medication such as amiodarone,or quinidine. -HIV or AIDS medicine such as ritonavir -medicine treat nausea and vomiting, such as ondansetron -medicines to treat psychiatric disorders, such as clozapine, haloperidol, -migraine headache medicine such as sumatriptan or zolmitriptan or -narcotic medication such as,or methadone

-Using this medicine together with (halofantrine, mefloquine, quinine, or quinidine )may increase the chance for more serious side effects. - Patient with history of QT prolangation -Do not use Coartem if you are allergic to artemether or lumefantrine.  -Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with Coartem and lead to potentially dangerous effects

-Patient with liver and kidney dz. - When take this drug with birth control pills it make less effective. -Coartem should not be given to a child who weighs less than 11 pounds.

It is not known whether artemether and lumefantrine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether Coartem is harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.