Artesunate
Indications
Artesunate is used for:
Malaria, Schistosomiasis
Adult Dose
Falciparum malaria especially in quinidine-resistant patients
Adult: PO: 4 mg/kg once daily x3 days (with mefloquine)
Child Dose
Renal Dose
Administration
Contra Indications
Hypersensitivity.
Precautions
Hepatic or renal insufficiency. Pregnancy and lactation.
Lactation: unknown
Pregnancy-Lactation
Interactions
Antimalarial potentiating action seen with mefloquine, primaquine and tetracycline. Additive effect with chloroquine. Antagonistic effect with pyrimethamine and sulphonamides.
Adverse Effects
Side effects of Artesunate :
Generally well-tolerated, Cardiotoxicity (high doses), Neurotoxicity observed in animal studies, Drug induced fever, Skin rash
Mechanism of Action
Artesunate is a potent and rapidly-acting blood schizontocide derived from the leaves of the chinese herb, Armesia annua. The exact mode of action is not clear but clinical studies have confirmed the effectiveness of artesunate in P. vivax and falciparum malaria. Unclear, may inhibit DNA replication & transcription.