Herbal Spotlight
|
|
 Taking artemether and lumefantrine (Coartem)
Dear Patient,
Your health care provider has prescribed a combination drug of artemether and lumefantrine to treat your malaria. The brand name of this drug is Coartem.
How you'll take artemether and lumefantrine
Your health care provider will tell you how many tablets to take based on your weight. Take the first dose as soon as it's prescribed. Take the next dose in 8 hours, and then take a dose in the morning and evening for the next 2 days.
What to do if you miss a dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it's almost time for the next dose, just skip the missed dose. Don't make up doses.
What to do about side effects
Notify your health care provider if you experience side effects to this medication.
Common: headache, dizziness, weakness, loss of appetite, muscle and joint pain or stiffness, tiredness, chills, fever, cough, vomiting.
Less common: back pain, constipation, diarrhea, difficulty sleeping, difficulty swallowing, itching, mood swings, rash, respiratory infection, urinary tract infection.
What you must know about other medications
Tell any health care provider who takes care of you that you're taking this drug. There are many drugs that could cause serious problems if you combine them with this drug, including:
- amiodarone
- amitriptyline
- astemizole
- cisapride
- clomipramine
- disopyramide
- flecainide
- halofantrine
- imipramine
- ketoconazole
- pimozide
|
- procainamide
- quinidine
- quinine
- sotalol
- terfenadine
- ziprasidone
- antiretrovirals
- antidepressants
- fluoroquinolone antibiotics
- imidazole antifungals
- macrolides
|
Additionally, mefloquine may reduce the drug's effectiveness. This drug may reduce the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives.
Special directions
- Take this drug with food.
- If a child has difficulty swallowing tablets, crush and mix the drug with 1 to 2 teaspoons of water in a clean container. Give the drug immediately, then re-fill the container with water and have the child swallow the contents. After the drug is taken, give the child food or drink, such as milk, formula, pudding, broth, or porridge.
- Avoid drinking grapefruit juice while taking the drug; grapefruit juice can cause drug levels to rise.
- If you vomit within 1 hour of taking the drug, repeat the dose. If you vomit the second dose, notify your health care provider.
- Tell your health care provider if you're pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or if you're breast-feeding.
Keep in mind
- You should take the drug exactly as prescribed, for as long as prescribed, even if you're feeling better.
- Notify your health care provider if your malaria doesn't get better, if you're unable to eat, if you develop flulike symptoms (chills, fever, muscle aches, or headache), or if you faint or notice an irregular heartbeat.
For institutions
to distribute multiple copies of this document, a
licensing agreement is required from the publisher.
|
