Presentation:
- Box of 1 vial of artesunat 60 mg + 1 ampule of sodium bicarbonat 50 mg/1 ml
- Box of 1 vial of artesunat 60 mg + and 1 ampule of sodium bicarbonat 50 mg/1 ml + 1 ampule of sodium clorid 0,9%
Artesunate (C19H28O8) is an antimalarial agents. Artesunate is a derivative of Artemisinin found in Artemisia annua, a herb that has traditionally been used in Vietnam for the treatment of malaria. Artesunat mainly acts on asexual body of eryghrocytic-stage plasmodium and is the only effective derivatives of artemisinin at present that can be made into water-soluble preparation. It is used for all kinds of malarias, especially for malignant malarias with multi drug-resistance. It is first choice to treat severe malaria. It has the characteristics of rapid effect, high efficiency, low toxin, and multi administration route.
Indication
Artesunate has an antimalrial activity. It can quickly and reliably control the actute attack and cerebral type of malaria. It is effective against plasmodium falciparum and plasmodium vivax, especially against malaria parasites resistant to Chlorquine.
Administration:
- As prescribed by physicians.
- It can be given by deep IM injection or slow IV injection:
+ Deep IM injection: Dissolve 60mg of Artesunate with 1ml of 5% sodium bicarbonate solution for injection before use.
+ Slow IV injection: Dissolve 60mg of Artesunate with 1ml of 5% sodium bicarbonate solution for injection and add 5ml of 0.9% sodium chloride solution for injection before use to make 1ml contains 10mg of Artesunate. Injection must follow immediately soon after dissolution, if the solution appears cloudy or sediment occurs, it should be rejected.
Dosage:
The usual injection dosage for each time:
- Adult and Children > 7 years: 1.2mg/kg.
- Children < 7 years: 1.5mg/kg.
The following doses are given at hour 4 and 24 after the first injection in day 1. Give 1 dose daily for the consecutive days. A course of therapy is recommended for 5 consecutive days.
Contraindications:
No contra-indications has been so far reported.
Side effects:
The most frequent side-effect are mild, transient such as: side-effects on gastrointestinal system (nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea), headache, dazzling...
Precautions:
Use with caution in pregnant women in the first trimester.
Interactions:
Due to its structure containing a sesquiterpene lactone that bears a peroxide grouping which releases free oxygen, avoid using Artesunate concomitantly with antioxidants such as Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Glutathione, ... because those will decrease the antimalarial action of the drug.
Self-life:
36 months from the manufacturing date.
Never use after the expiry date clearly indicated on the outer packaging.
Storage:
Store in a cool, dry place. Protect from light.
