Have you or someone you know contracted malaria and the doctor prescribed this medicine? Or do you want to know more about this medicine? Then this article will be very important for you. Let's talk about this medicine called Artemether/Lumefantrine, which is often given under the brand name Coartem in our country, in simple terms.
Simply put, what is this medicine?
This is a special medicine that is given to treat malaria. In medical terms, it is an antimalarial agent. When the malaria parasite enters your body, this medicine helps to destroy those parasites and cure you. It contains a combination of two drugs: Artemether and Lumefantrine. These two work together to fight the malaria parasite.
The most important thing is that this is a medicine that should only be used on the prescription of a doctor . Never use a medicine that you think has been given to someone else.
Things you need to tell your doctor before starting medication
Before your doctor prescribes this medication, he or she needs to have a complete picture of your health. So, if you have any of the conditions below, don't hide it from your doctor.
| Your situation | Why should I inform the doctor about it? |
|---|---|
| Heart disease | This medication can sometimes affect the heart rhythm, so doctors are very careful when giving it to someone with heart disease. |
| Kidney disease | The kidneys are the body's way of eliminating medication. If you have kidney problems, your doctor may need to adjust your dosage. |
| Liver disease | This medicine is processed in the body by the liver. If you have liver disease, it can affect how the medicine works. |
| Allergies | If you have any allergies to this medicine, other medications, foods, or dyes, be sure to tell us. |
| Being pregnant or trying to get pregnant | The doctor is particularly concerned about the use of this medicine during pregnancy, so be sure to inform her about this. |
| Being a breastfeeding mother | Since the medication can pass to the baby through breast milk, it is very important for a nursing mother to tell her doctor . |
How exactly do I use this medicine?
How to take the medicine
These tablets should be taken by mouth. It is best to take them with a meal or something like milk . This is because the ingredient in this medicine, lumefantrine, is best absorbed by the body when taken with a fatty meal. Therefore, taking the medicine with a meal will give you the best results.
Very important: Do not drink grapefruit juice while taking this medication. This can increase the amount of medication in your body unnecessarily, causing side effects.
If small children have difficulty swallowing pills, they can crush the pill and mix it with 1-2 teaspoons of water in a clean container. This should be done at the time of giving the medicine. Do not prepare it in advance.
Instructions to follow
- Complete the full course: Don't stop taking the medication just because you feel a little better. Take all the doses exactly as prescribed by your doctor, for the number of days. If you don't, the parasites that are left in your body may multiply again and the disease may reappear.
- If you vomit: If you vomit within an hour of taking the medicine, take the same dose again. If you vomit a second time, call your doctor immediately and tell them about it.
- When given to children: This medicine is sometimes given to children over 2 months of age. However, a pediatrician should decide on this. Therefore, if you are giving this medicine to a child, talk to your doctor about it carefully.
What if I take too much medicine?
If you think you have taken too much medicine, go to a hospital's Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) immediately. Or call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital .
Other things that may interact with this medicine
This is a very important part. Other medications you are taking can affect the way this medicine works. And this medicine can affect other medications. So tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking (including vitamins, herbal products, and herbal supplements).
| Do not take Artemether/Lumefantrine with these things! | |
|---|---|
| - Some medications that affect heart rhythm (e.g. dronedarone) | - Some antifungals (e.g. ketoconazole) |
| - Other antimalarials (e.g. halofantrine) | - Rifampin (a medicine for tuberculosis) |
| - Carbamazepine, Phenytoin (medicines for epilepsy) | - St. John's wort (a herbal medicine) |
| - Grapefruit juice | - Pimozide, Thioridazine (medicines for mental illness) |
| If you are using these, be sure to tell your doctor. | |
| - Antiretroviral drugs for HIV or AIDS | - Hormonal medications, including birth control pills |
| - Other drugs that affect heart rate (prolong the QT interval) | - Other medications such as ziprasidone, dofetilide |
Things to consider when taking medication
- Symptoms: If your symptoms do not improve or worsen, tell your doctor. Also, if you experience symptoms such as fever, body aches, and headache again after completing the course of medication, tell your doctor . This may mean that the treatment has not been completely successful.
- Birth control: This is very important. Birth control pills may be less effective while taking this medication. So, if you are not planning to have a baby, talk to your doctor about using an additional form of birth control, such as condoms, while taking this medication and for a few weeks after stopping it.
- Eating and vomiting: If you are unable to eat properly or if you are vomiting after taking the medication, tell your doctor . This is because the body needs food to absorb the medication, and if this is not done properly, the treatment may fail.
Possible side effects
Like any medicine, this can cause side effects in some people, but not everyone does.
| If you experience these symptoms, see a doctor immediately. | |
|---|---|
| Allergic reactions | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips or tongue, difficulty breathing. |
| Irregular heartbeat | Symptoms such as chest tightness, fatigue, and shortness of breath. |
| These are usually not serious, but if they persist, tell your doctor. | |
| Cough | Headache |
| Dizziness | Appetite |
| Fever or chills | Muscle pain |
| Nausea, vomiting | Feeling weak, tired |
If you notice any other unusual symptoms that are not on this list, talk to your doctor about that as well.
How to store the medicine?
- Keep out of the reach of children .
- Store at room temperature (between 15-30 degrees Celsius). Keep away from excessive heat and moisture.
- Discard expired medication without using it.
Take-Home Message
- Always take this medicine with a meal or something like milk . Do not take it on an empty stomach.
- Avoid drinking grapefruit juice while taking the medication.
- No matter how well you feel, take the full amount of medication prescribed by the doctor and finish it on time.
- Inform your doctor about all other medications and vitamins you are taking.
- Since the effectiveness of birth control pills may be reduced when taking this medication, consult your doctor about an additional method of birth control.
- If you vomit within an hour of taking the medicine, take the same dose again. If you vomit a second time, seek medical advice immediately.
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