(ar TEM e ther and LOO me FAN treen) Brand: Coartem
• Speak your doctor about all another medicines you use.
• Some medicines can interact with artemether and lumefantrine and must not be used at the same time, especially: conivaptan, dexamethasone, nefazodone, rifampin, St. John's wort; antipsychotic medication--pimozide, thioridazine, ziprasidone; certain antibiotics or antifungal medicines--clarithromycin, erythromycin, itraconazole, ketoconazole, telithromycin, voriconazole; HIV/AIDS medication--atazanavir, delavirdine, fosamprenavir, indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir; or seizure medication--carbamazepine, fosphenytoin, phenobarbital, phenytoin.
• Artemether and lumefantrine are anti-malaria medications that interfere with the growth of parasites in the red blood cells of the human body. Malaria is caused by parasites that enter the body through the bite of a mosquito. Malaria is general in areas such as Africa, South America, and Southern Asia.
• Artemether and lumefantrine is a combination medication used to treat non-severe malaria.
• This medicine is used only to treat malaria. Do not use artemether and lumefantrine to prevent malaria.
• Artemether and lumefantrine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medicine guide.
• You must not use this medicine if you are allergic to artemether or lumefantrine.
• Some medicines can interact with artemether and lumefantrine and must not be used at the same time. Your doctor may need to change your treatment plan if you use any of the next drugs:
· conivaptan, dexamethasone, nefazodone, rifampin, St. John's wort; or
· antipsychotic medication--pimozide, thioridazine, ziprasidone; certain antibiotics or antifungal medicines--clarithromycin, erythromycin, itraconazole, ketoconazole, telithromycin, voriconazole; HIV/AIDS medication--atazanavir, delavirdine, fosamprenavir, indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir; or seizure medication--carbamazepine, fosphenytoin, phenobarbital, phenytoin.
• To create certain artemether and lumefantrine is safety for you, speak your doctor if you have:
· a history of heart malady or a last heart onslaught;
· heart rhythm mess, or a private or family history of Long QT syndrome;
· liver or kidney malady;
· low levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood.
• Tell your doctor about all another anti-malaria medications you have used recently.
• FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether artemether and lumefantrine will harm an unborn child. Speak your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication.
• Use a barrier form of birth control (such as a condom or diaphragm with spermicide). Hormonal contraception (such as birth control pills, injections, implants, skin patches, and vaginal rings) may not be effective satis to prevent pregnancy during your treatment.
• It is not known whether artemether and lumefantrine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing child. Speak your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
• Artemether and lumefantrine must not be given to a baby who weighs smaller than 11 pounds.
• Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not take this medication in larger or less amounts or for longer than recommended.
• Take artemether and lumefantrine with food, milk, pudding, oatmeal, or broth. The tablet may be crushed and mixed with 1 or 2 teaspoons of water for easier swallowing. You may also mix a crushed tablet with infant formula when giving this medicine to a baby. Start eating normally as soon as possible to help your body better absorb the medication.
• If you vomit within 1 to 2 hours after taking this medicine, take other doze. If your vomiting continues or you can't ate, call your doctor.
• Artemether and lumefantrine is generally given as a total of 6 doses over a period of 3 days. Carefully follow your doctor's instructions about how much tablets to take for doze. Artemether and lumefantrine doses are based on weight and age. The normal doses are as follows, unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
• For people over 16 years old who weigh at least 77 pounds:
· Take four (4) tablets as an initial dose.
· Take 4 more tablets 8 hours later.
· Take 4 tablets in the morning and 4 tablets in the evening for the following 2 days.
• For children younger than 16 years old who weigh between 55 and 77 pounds:
· Take three (3) tablets as an initial dose.
· Take 3 more tablets 8 hours later.
· Take 3 tablets in the morning and 3 tablets in the evening for the following 2 days.
• For children younger than 16 years old who weigh between 33 and 55 pounds:
· Take two (2) tablets as an initial dose.
· Take 2 more tablets 8 hours later.
· Take 2 tablets in the morning and 2 tablets in the evening for the following 2 days.
• For children younger than 16 years old who weigh between 11 and 33 pounds:
· Take one (1) tablet as an initial dose.
· Take a second tablet 8 hours later.
· Take 1 tablet in the morning and 1 tablet in the evening for the following 2 days.
• No medicine is 100% effective in treating malaria. For excellent results, hold using the medicine as directed.
• Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
• Take the missed doze as soon as you remember. Skip the missed doze if it is nearly time for your following scheduled doze. Do not take extra medication to create up the missed dose.
• Search abnormal medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
• Avoid taking another anti-malaria medications, unless your doctor has told you to.
• Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with artemether and lumefantrine and lead to unwanted side effects. Avoid the use of grapefruit commodity while taking artemether and lumefantrine.
• Get abnormal medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; quick heart course; difficult breathing; swelling of your person, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:
· worsening malaria symptoms;
· severe vomiting or loss of appetite;
· headache with chest pain and severe dizziness, fainting, quick or pounding heartbeats; or
· the first sign of any skin rash, no matter how mild.
• Call your doctor if you develop fever, chills, body aches, severe headache, or flu symptoms after you have finished taking all your doses of artemether and lumefantrine.
• General side effects may include:
· mild weakness or dizziness, mild headache;
· joint or muscle pain; or
· cough.
• This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may message side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
• Much drugs can interact with artemether and lumefantrine. Not all possible interactions are listed here. Speak your doctor about all your medications and any you start or stop using during treatment with artemether and lumefantrine, especially:
· alfuzosin, apomorphine, methadone, mifepristone, ranolazine, solifenacin, tacrolimus, tetrabenazine, tizanidine, vardenafil, vasopressin;
· an antidepressant--amitriptyline, amoxapine, citalopram, clomipramine, desipramine, doxepin, escitalopram, imipramine, maprotiline, nortriptyline, protriptyline, trazodone, trimipramine; antipsychotic medication--chlorpromazine, clozapine, fluphenazine, haloperidol, lithium, perphenazine, prochlorperazine, promethazine, quetiapine, risperidone, trifluoperazine;
· an antibiotic or antifungal medicine--azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, gemifloxacin, fluconazole, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, norfloxacin, ofloxacin, pentamidine; anti-malaria medication--chloroquine, mefloquine, quinine; heart rhythm medication--amiodarone, disopyramide, dofetilide, flecainide, ibutilide, procainamide, propafenone, quinidine, sotalol; HIV/AIDS medication--lopinavir/ritonavir; cancer medicine--arsenic trioxide, daunorubicin, doxorubicin, epirubicin, idarubicin, sorafenib, sunitinib, tamoxifen, toremifene; medicines to prevent or treat nausea and vomiting--dolasetron, droperidol, granisetron, ondansetron, palonosetron.
• This list is not complete and much another drugs can interact with artemether and lumefantrine. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal commodity. Give a list of all your medicines to any healthcare provider who treats you.
• Your pharmacist can provide more information about artemether and lumefantrine.
Remember, hold this and all another medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medicine only for the indication prescribed.
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