Artemether + Lumefantrine Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Artemether and lumefantrine is a combination antimalarial medicine used to treat certain kinds of malaria infections. It works by killing the organisms that cause malaria at different points in their life cycle. The tablets are taken by mouth with food, twice a day, for the number of days prescribed by a doctor.

What is Artemether + Lumefantrine Tablet

Artemether and lumefantrine is a combination medicine used to treat certain kinds of malaria infections, a serious illness spread by mosquitoes that can cause death.

Artemether + Lumefantrine Tablet uses

• Treating certain kinds of malaria infections

Benefits of Artemether + Lumefantrine Tablet

• Clears the organisms that cause malaria from the body
• Helps relieve malaria symptoms such as fever, chills, and muscle pain within the first few days of treatment

How Artemether + Lumefantrine Tablet works

This medicine is an antimalarial that works by killing the organisms that cause malaria. Artemether and lumefantrine act at different points in the parasite's life cycle to clear the infection.

Artemether + Lumefantrine Tablet dosage

Take with food twice a day for the number of days your doctor tells you. Take exactly as directed; do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed. Always take with food; if you are not able to eat, call your doctor.

If you have trouble swallowing the tablets, they may be crushed and mixed with a small amount of water in a clean container, then drunk right away; rinse the container with more water and drink that too, then eat or drink something like milk, formula, pudding, or broth.

If you vomit within 1 to 2 hours after taking a dose, take another full dose; if you vomit again after the extra dose, call your doctor.

You should begin to feel better during the first few days of treatment; call your doctor if symptoms do not improve or get worse, or if you have fever, chills, muscle pain, or headache soon after finishing treatment.

Keep taking this medicine until you finish the full course, even if you feel better, since stopping early or skipping doses may leave the infection incompletely treated.

Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice while taking this medicine.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember, but if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular schedule; do not double up doses.

Available forms and strengths

• Tablet

Side effects of Artemether + Lumefantrine Tablet

Common

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Weakness or lack of energy
• Muscle or joint pain
• Tiredness
• Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
• Vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Fever
• Chills
• Cough
• Upset stomach
• Stomach pain or diarrhea

Serious

• Abnormal or fast heartbeat
• Fainting
• Signs of a serious allergic reaction: rash, hives, itching, red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever, wheezing, tightness in the chest or throat, trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking, unusual hoarseness, or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat

Warnings and precautions

• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, so you can discuss the benefits and risks to you and the baby. Call your doctor if you become pregnant while taking this medicine.
• Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding before taking this medicine.
• Tell your doctor if you have kidney disease before taking this medicine.
• Tell your doctor if you have liver disease before taking this medicine.
• Tell your doctor if you or a family member has ever had a prolonged QT interval, a rare heart problem that can cause irregular heartbeat, fainting, or sudden death, or if you have had a slow, fast, or irregular heartbeat, a recent heart attack, low magnesium or potassium levels, or kidney, heart, or liver disease.
• This medicine may make hormonal birth control (pills, patches, rings, and injections) less effective. Use another method of birth control while taking this medicine.
• St. John's wort may interact with this medicine. Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking it, and do not start it without discussing with your healthcare provider.
• Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while taking this medicine.
• Certain other medicines can interact with this drug, including amitriptyline, carbamazepine, clomipramine, flecainide, imipramine, phenytoin, rifampin, or St. John's wort, as well as other drugs that can cause an abnormal heartbeat (prolonged QT interval).
• Do not take this medicine if you have taken halofantrine within the past month.
• You may need an ECG (heart test) checked before starting this drug and while taking it.

Storage

• Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children.
• Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom).
• Keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers are not child-resistant. Always lock safety caps. Place the medication in a safe location.
• Dispose of unneeded medications in a way so that pets, children, and other people cannot take them. Do not flush this medication down the toilet. Use a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist about take-back programs in your community.

When to see a doctor

• Get medical help right away if you have signs of an allergic reaction, such as rash, hives, itching, swollen or blistered skin, wheezing, chest or throat tightness, trouble breathing or swallowing, unusual hoarseness, or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Call your doctor right away or get emergency care if you have a fast or abnormal heartbeat, or if you faint.
• Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve, get worse, or if you develop fever, chills, muscle pain, or headache soon after finishing treatment, as this could mean the infection is still present.
• If you think there has been an overdose, get medical care right away or contact your local poison control center.

Alternatives

• Atovaquone + Proguanil
• Artesunate + Sulfadoxine/Pyrimethamine
• Artesunate + Mefloquine
• Dihydroartemisinin + Piperaquine
• Artesunate + Amodiaquine