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Artesunat is an anti-malarial drug that works effectively against all forms of malaria including anti-chloroquine antibodies. You can find out information about this drug in the article below to understand its uses and how to use it when needed.
1. What is Artesunate?
Artesunate medicine contains the main active ingredient Artesunate 500mg. This is a semi-synthetic derivative of artemisinin and also a sesquiterpen lactone isolated from the plant Asteraceae (Artemisia annua L.), belonging to the daisy family (Asteraceae).Because this active ingredient has good water solubility, it is prepared in many different forms such as oral, rectal, intramuscular or intravenous injection. However, because Artesunate is not stable at neutral or acidic pH, it must be used immediately after reconstitution.
According to many research documents, Artesunat is extremely active and rapidly kills schizonts in the blood against Plasmodium vivax as well as against both susceptible and chloroquine-resistant P falciparum. In addition, Artesunat is only effective against the clonal intraerythrocytic form of Plasmodium (completely has no effect on the extra-erythrocyte stage).
Because Artesunate has gametophyte activity, but does not affect the early stages and latent of the parasite in tissues, there is no benefit in chemoprophylaxis or prevention of malaria recurrence.
Regarding the mechanism of action of the drug Artesunate is similar to that of drugs containing artemisinin and other derivatives, acting by selectively entering parasite-infected cells, specifically creating a selective, specific inhibition of the PfATPase6 enzyme of the parasite. parasites.
According to the results of a clinical trial comparing the benefits of Artesunat and Quinin drugs, conducted in Southeast Asia not long ago with 1461 malaria patients, 202 of which were children under 15 years of age. The results obtained showed that the group of patients treated with Artesunat had a mortality rate of about 34.7% reduced compared with the group treated with Quinine. Therefore, Artesunat is recommended to be used in the treatment of various forms of malaria in adults. However, to avoid drug resistance, Artesunat is not used as a single oral drug.
2. What are the uses of Artesunate?
Artesunat is indicated in the treatment of malaria caused by all types of Plasmodium, including severe malaria caused by multi-resistant strains of P. falciparum. However, this drug should only be used when other antimalarial drugs are ineffective and the prescribed dose must be taken.
Do not use Artesunate for people with hypersensitivity to artesunate or its components.
3. Dosage and usage
To promote the best effect, avoid disease recurrence, Artesunat needs to be used in full dose and in combination with other drugs. Usually, the drug is combined with amodiaquine, or mefloquine or sulfadoxin - pyrimethamide, depending on the degree of resistance and depending on the region.
You can refer to the following drug dosage:
Children under 1 year old: Use the drug at a dose of 50mg / day - 100mg, 4 days later reduce the dose to 50mg / day. Children older than 5 years: Use the drug at a dose of 100 mg - 200 mg / day, 4 days later reduce the dose to 100 mg / day. Children from 5 to 12 years old: Use the drug at a dose of 100 mg - 300 mg / day, 4 days later reduce the dose to 200 mg / day. Adults and children over 12 years old: Use the drug at a dose of 100 mg - 400 mg / day, 4 days later reduce the dose to 200 mg / day.
4. Side effects
The use of Artesunat may cause some of the following side effects:
Common side effects: Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dizziness, taste changes, headache, dizziness, rash , hair loss, leukopenia, increased liver enzymes, especially immediately after taking the drug. Uncommon side effects: Acute respiratory distress syndrome, pulmonary edema, cough, nasal symptoms, urticaria. Rare side effects: Presence of Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Side effects of unspecified frequency: Pancreatitis, increased serum amylase, pure red cell aplasia.
5. Drug interactions
Do not use Artesunate concurrently with drugs containing corticosteroids, adrenaline, heparin, dextran, mannitol, heptaminol, aspirin because it may change the drug's ability to work or increase the influence of side effects.
6. Be careful when taking medicine
Use Artesunat with caution in people with liver disease, history of seizures or other neurological manifestations. Use with caution in patients with arrhythmia or other heart disease caused by drugs that can prolong QT on the electrocardiogram. Patients with problems related to hemolytic anemia after treatment require blood transfusion and should be monitored for 4 weeks after treatment. Malaria is especially dangerous during pregnancy and easily leads to many complications such as anemia, hypoglycemia, pulmonary edema, miscarriage, premature birth, and low birth weight babies. Therefore, if you have malaria in the first 3 months of pregnancy, you can completely use Artesunat if prescribed by your doctor. For nursing mothers, breastfeeding should be discontinued while being treated with Artesunat. The ingredients in Artesunat can cause dizziness and lightheadedness, so patients need to be careful when driving or operating machinery. With some of the information shared above, you have known how Artesunat drug works as well as how to use it appropriately to bring the best treatment effect. Do not increase the dose or decrease the dose, it will affect the effectiveness of the treatment.
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