Coartem
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Coartem
Coartem
(artemether/lumefantrine) Tablets
DRUG DESCRIPTION
Coartem Tablets contain a fixed combination of two antimalarial active ingredients, artemether, an artemisinin derivative, and lumefantrine. Both components are blood schizontocides. The chemical name of artemether is (3R,5aS,6R,8aS,9R,10S,12R,12aR)-decahydro-10-methoxy-3,6,9-trimethyl-3,12-epoxy-12H-pyrano[4,3-j]-1,2benzodioxepine. Artemether is a white, crystalline powder that is freely soluble in acetone, soluble in methanol and ethanol, and practically insoluble in water. It has the empirical formula C16H26O5 with a molecular weight of 298.4, and the following structural formula:
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The chemical name of lumefantrine is (±)-2-dibutylamino-1-[2,7-dichloro-9-(4-chlorobenzylidene)-9Hfluorene-4-yl]ethanol. Lumefantrine is a yellow, crystalline powder that is freely soluble in N,Ndimethylformamide, chloroform, and ethyl acetate; soluble in dichloromethane; slightly soluble in ethanol and methanol; and insoluble in water. It has the empirical formula C30H32Cl3NO with a molecular weight of 528.9, and the following structural formula:
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Coartem Tablets are for oral administration. Each Coartem Tablet contains 20 mg of artemether and 120 mg lumefantrine. The inactive ingredients are colloidal silicon dioxide, croscarmellose sodium, hypromellose, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, and polysorbate 80.
What are the possible side effects of artemether and lumefantrine (Coartem)?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:
- worsening malaria symptoms;
- dizziness, fainting, fast or pounding heartbeat;
- severe or uncontrolled vomiting or diarrhea; or
- stomach pain, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
Call your doctor if you develop fever, chills, body aches, severe headache, or...
Read All Potential Side Effects and See Pictures of Coartem »
What are the precautions when taking artemether lumefantrine tablets (Coartem)?
Before taking artemether/lumefantrine, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to artemether or lumefantrine; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: recent use (within the past month) of any medication to prevent or treat malaria (such as halofantrine, quinine, or quinidine), kidney problems, liver problems.
Artemether/lumefantrine may cause a condition that affects the heart rhythm (QT prolongation). QT prolongation can infrequently result in serious (rarely fatal) fast/irregular heartbeat and other symptoms (such as severe...
Last reviewed on RxList: 8/16/2012
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.
Additional Coartem Information
Coartem - User Reviews
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