Artesunate Tablet 50mg

Artesunate Tablet 50mg is an antimalarial medicine used as part of combination therapy for the treatment of malaria.

Oral artesunate may be used with another effective antimalarial for uncomplicated malaria, including P. falciparum malaria, according to appropriate treatment guidelines. It can also form part of the oral completion regimen after initial parenteral treatment of severe malaria once the patient can take oral medication.

It should not be used alone as oral artesunate monotherapy, because this increases the risk of treatment failure/recrudescence and contributes to artemisinin resistance.

Artesunate acts rapidly against malaria parasites and can quickly reduce parasite levels when used in an appropriate antimalarial combination.

The artemisinin component of an ACT rapidly reduces the number of malaria parasites during the first several days of treatment, while the longer-acting partner medicine helps clear remaining parasites.

Potential treatment benefits therefore include:

• Rapid reduction of blood-stage malaria parasites
• Faster parasite clearance
• Effective treatment when combined with an appropriate partner antimalarial
• Lower risk of recrudescence compared with inadequate artesunate monotherapy
• Protection of artemisinin effectiveness when proper ACT regimens are used
• Actual effectiveness depends on correct diagnosis, dosing, treatment adherence and regional resistance patterns.

 

Artesunate 50mg should be taken only as part of the antimalarial regimen prescribed by a qualified healthcare professional.

The correct dose depends on body weight, age, malaria species, disease severity and the partner antimalarial medicine.

MSF oral artesunate guidance describes weight-based treatment given for three days in combination with another antimalarial, rather than artesunate alone.

Patients should:

• Take each dose according to the prescribed schedule
• Take the required partner antimalarial medicine
• Complete the entire prescribed treatment course
• Not stop treatment simply because fever or symptoms improve
• Not use leftover artesunate for future fever without malaria testing and medical advice

Severe malaria requires urgent medical treatment and should not be self-treated with oral Artesunate 50mg tablets.

Artesunate kills malaria parasites rapidly after being converted to its active metabolite, dihydroartemisinin (DHA).

Artesunate belongs to the artemisinin class of antimalarial medicines. Its endoperoxide structure is activated within malaria-infected red blood cells, producing highly reactive intermediates that damage parasite proteins and other essential cellular components.

This produces rapid killing of blood-stage parasites. Because artesunate and DHA are relatively short-acting, a longer-acting partner medicine is required to clear remaining parasites and reduce recurrence and resistance.

Oral artesunate is generally well tolerated, but gastrointestinal symptoms and dizziness can occur.

Possible side effects may include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Abdominal or gastrointestinal discomfort
• Diarrhea
• Dizziness
• Headache or weakness in some patients

Some symptoms can overlap with malaria itself. MSF specifically lists gastrointestinal disturbances and dizziness among possible effects of oral artesunate.

Rare serious allergic reactions have also been reported with artesunate. Seek urgent medical attention for breathing difficulty, facial or throat swelling, widespread rash, severe weakness or other serious symptoms.