Artesunate
Artesunate Information

About Artesunate

Artesunate is an antimalarial agent. It is a water-soluble hemisuccinate derivative of dihydroartemisinin. Artesunate and its active metabolite dihydroartemisinin are potent blood schizonticides, active against the ring stage of the parasite. Artesunate is ideal for the treatment of severe malaria, including cerebral malaria. It is also active against chloroquine and mefloquine resistant strains of P. falciparum. It is unstable in neutral solution and is therefore only available for injections as artesunic acid. The injectable formulation must be prepared immediately before use in 5% (w/v) sodium bicarbonate solution to produce the salt sodium artesunate.

Indications

Artesunate is primarily indicated in conditions like Cerebral malaria, Chloroquine resistant malaria.

Contraindication

Artesunate is contraindicated in conditions like Hypersensitivity,Pregnancy.

Side Effects

The signs and symptoms that are produced after the acute overdosage of Artesunate include Cardiotoxicity.The symptomatic adverse reactions produced by Artesunate are more or less tolerable and if they become severe, they can be treated symptomatically, these include Flatulence, Dizziness, Headache, Vomiting, Diarrhea, Fever, Abdominal pain, Rashes, Itching, Hair loss, Convulsions.

Warnings

Use cautiously in pregnancy and lactation,renal or hepatic dysfunction.Other drugs should be taken only with concurrence of the doctor. Artesunate should not to be used as a first line treatment of malaria. Parenteral artesunate should be used for the treatment of severe falciparum malaria only where there is evidence that the antimalarial efficacy of quinine is declining.

High Risk Groups

Drug should not be given to Pregnant Mothers, patients suffering from Kidney dysfunction, and patients suffering from Liver Malfunction.If prescribing authority justifies the benefits of the drug against the possible damages he/she should reevaluate them and consult the reference material and previous studies.