Coartem (artemether / lumefantrine) is an effective alternative treatment for certain types of malaria, but is only available as a brand name medication, so it might be expensive.
Treatment of malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum in people 2 months of age or older who weigh at least 5 kg (11 pounds)
Coartem (artemether / lumefantrine) is a combination of two antimalarial agents, artemether and lumefantrine. These two agents work together to kill malarial parasites by preventing them from producing DNA and protein.
Source:Â FDA
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
fast, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse
headache
muscle aches
pale skin
right upper abdominal or stomach pain and fullness
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
cloudy urine
convulsions
cough producing mucus
decreased urine
difficult, burning, or painful urination
difficulty with breathing
difficulty with swallowing
dizziness
ear congestion
ear drainage
frequent urge to urinate
general feeling of discomfort or illness
increased thirst
indigestion
joint pain
loss of appetite
loss of voice
lower back or side pain
mood changes
muscle pain or cramps
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
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 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
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.
Only 3 days of treatment
Can be used in children 2 months or older who weigh at least 5 kg (11 pounds)
Effective in areas where there is resistance to chloroquine, another antimalarial medication
Many interactions with heart medications and heart conditions
Available as a brand only, so it might be expensive
Even though it only used for 3 days, you'll take a lot of pills at one time (i.e., 24 tablets over 3 days in adults)
Coartem (artemether / lumefantrine) should be taken with food for full effects.
Coartem (artemether / lumefantrine) might lower the effect of hormonal birth control. You should use an additional form birth control, like condoms, while taking this medication.
For infants and children unable to swallow tablets, Coartem (artemether / lumefantrine) tablets can be crushed and mixed with 1 to 2 teaspoons of water, followed by food, milk, or formula.
Avoid drinking grapefruit juice while taking Coartem (artemether / lumefantrine).
If you throw up 1 to 2 hours after taking Coartem (artemether / lumefantrine), you need to retake the dose.
Coartem (artemether / lumefantrine) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Risk factors: Family history of QT prolongation | Other medications that cause QT prolongation | Using together with certain medications (some antibiotics, antidepressants, and antipsychotics) | Hypokalemia (low potassium) | Hypomagnesemia (low magnesium)
Coartem (artemether / lumefantrine) should be avoided in people with heart arrhythmias, electrolyte imbalances, or those who are taking certain medications (like antibiotics, antidepressants, and antipsychotics). If you have a history of heart problems, be sure your healthcare provider knows what heart medications you are taking.
Tell your healthcare provider if you have taken other medications for malaria in the past month. Taking Coartem (artemether / lumefantrine) with other antimalarials can be dangerous for your heart.
Although Coartem (artemether / lumefantrine) can greatly lower your appetite, it should be taken with food. Food helps Coartem (artemether / lumefantrine) absorb into the body and lowers the risk of malaria coming back.
Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
---|---|---|---|
20mg/120mg | 24 tablets | $142.17 | $5.92 |
The typical dose of Coartem (artemether / lumefantrine) for people who weigh at least 35 kg (77 pounds) is 4 tablets of artemether 20 mg/lumefantrine 120 mg by mouth with food for each dose. The medication is dosed twice per day for 3 days for a total of 6 doses.
After the first dose of 4 tablets, the second dose of 4 tablets is taken 8 hours later. Then the next two days, you take 4 tablets by mouth in the morning with breakfast and 4 tablets by mouth in the evening with dinner.
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.
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.
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.
Treatment of malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum in people 2 months of age or older who weigh at least 5 kg (11 pounds)
Prevention and treatment of malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum species
Treatment of uncomplicated malaria
Prevention of malaria in areas of the world where there's no Coartem (artemether / lumefantrine) resistance
Extraintestinal amebiasis (a type of parasitic infection)
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