Formulary
Artesunate: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Artesunate clinical drug profile including indications, dosing, side effects, cautions and interactions.
MedNext Academy | 3 min read
Artesunate: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Artesunate clinical drug profile including indications, dosing, side effects, cautions and interactions.
Indications and dose
**Severe malaria (under expert supervision)**
- **Adult** (By Intravenous Injection): 2.4 mg/kg every 12 hours for 3 doses, to be given at 0, 12, and 24 hours, if patient is unable to switch to oral antimalarial treatment after initial 3 doses, continue to give every 24 hours until they are able to do so. If intravenous treatment is required for more than 7 days, consult an infectious disease specialist.
**Severe malaria (under expert supervision) for artesunate**
- **Neonate** (By intravenous injection): 3 mg/kg every 12 hours for 3 doses, to be given at 0, 12, and 24 hours, if patient is unable to switch to oral antimalarial treatment after initial 3 doses, continue to give every 24 hours until they are able to do so. If intravenous treatment is required for more than 7 days, consult an infectious disease specialist.
- **Child (body-weight up to 20 kg)** (By intravenous injection): 3 mg/kg every 12 hours for 3 doses, to be given at 0, 12, and 24 hours, if patient is unable to switch to oral antimalarial treatment after initial 3 doses, continue to give every 24 hours until they are able to do so. If intravenous treatment is required for more than 7 days, consult an infectious disease specialist.
- **Child (body-weight 20 kg and above)** (By intravenous injection): 2.4 mg/kg every 12 hours for 3 doses, to be given at 0, 12, and 24 hours, if patient is unable to switch to oral antimalarial treatment after initial 3 doses, continue to give every 24 hours until they are able to do so. If intravenous treatment is required for more than 7 days, consult an infectious disease specialist.
Side effects
Common or very common Abdominal pain; acute kidney injury; anaemia; bradycardia; cough; diarrhoea; dizziness; fever; haemoglobinuria; haemolysis (delayed); headache; hyperbilirubinaemia; hypotension; jaundice; reticulocytopenia; rhinitis; taste altered; vomiting Uncommon Appetite decreased; constipation; fatigue; flushing; nausea; skin reactions; Stevens-Johnson syndrome
Pregnancy
Specialist sources indicate benefit to the mother outweighs potential risk to the unborn child (limited information available). See also Pregnancy in Malaria, treatment .
Breast feeding
Specialist sources indicate present in milk but not known to be harmful.
Medicinal forms
Clinical governance
**Author:** MedNext Clinical Team. **Clinical reviewer:** Dr Shameer Deen, MBBS, MS, MRCS. **Sources:** BNF, Indian Pharmacopoeia, CIMS India. **Correction:** Report errors at support@mednext.academy.
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