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Artesunate
Artesunate is an injectable medication used to treat severe cases of malaria. It's given through the vein by a healthcare provider, and has sometimes been linked to kidney damage.
Last reviewed on April 21, 2022
What is Artesunate?
How Artesunate works
Drug Facts
Common BrandsArtesunate
Drug ClassAntimalarial
Controlled Substance ClassificationNot a controlled medication
Generic StatusNo lower-cost generic available
AvailabilityPrescription only
Frequently asked questions about Artesunate
What is artesunate?
Artesunate is an antimalarial medication that comes from an herb called sweet wormwood. It's a first-choice treatment option used to treat severe cases of malaria, a condition that's caused by parasites carried by mosquitoes. It can be used to treat children and adults, but is only available as an injection you get through the vein. If you're infected with malaria due to the parasite species Plasmodium vivax (P. vivax) or Plasmodium ovale (P. ovale), you'll also need to use another antimalarial medication. This is because artesunate only treats parasites in the blood and doesn't treat them in the liver like other medications can.
How does artesunate work to treat malaria?
Artesunate is an artemisinin. It kills parasites in the blood that cause malaria by preventing them from making proteins they need to grow and survive.
What's the typical dose of artesunate?
Dosing for artesunate is based on body weight. The typical dose is 2.4 mg/kg of body weight given intravenously (IV) over 1-2 minutes at 0, 12, and 24 hours, then once daily until antimalarial medications can be given by mouth.
What are some side effects of artesunate?
Some common side effects reported with artesunate include kidney damage, hemoglobinuria (a condition where hemoglobin, a protein in your red blood cells that carries oxygen, is present in your urine), and jaundice (yellowing of the skin or whites of your eyes). Contact your provider if you experience dark urine, changes in how much or how often you urinate, or if you notice yellow skin or whites of your eyes after treatment with artesunate.
Is artesunate safe to use in pregnancy?
There haven't been enough studies looking at artesunate in people who are pregnant. Animal studies showed that it can cause heart, brain, and bone problems in unborn babies. However, it's important to be treated for malaria if you get it during pregnancy. Untreated malaria can cause serious risks for both you and your unborn baby.
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