Artesunate + Mefloquine
Information about Artesunate + Mefloquine
Artesunate + mefloquine uses
Artesunate+Mefloquine is used in the treatment of malaria.
How artesunate + mefloquine works
This is a combination of two antiparasitic medicines: Artesunate and Mefloquine, which treats malaria. These medicines work by increasing the levels of haeme in the blood, a substance toxic to the malarial parasite. This kills the parasite and stops the infection from spreading.
Common side effects of artesunate + mefloquine
Nausea, Vomiting, Dizziness, Headache, Sleepiness, Insomnia (difficulty in sleeping), Muscle pain, Joint pain, Weakness, Loss of appetite, Decreased white blood cell count (lymphocytes), Reduced reticulocyte count, Abdominal pain, Fever, Taste change, Ringing in ear, Cough, Rash, Diarrhea, Vertigo, Balance disorder (loss of balance), Abnormal dreams, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, Urticaria, Hypotension (low blood pressure), High blood pressure, Flushing (sense of warmth in the face, ears, neck and trunk), Fainting, Chest pain, Tachycardia, Palpitations, Slow heart rate, Irregular heart rate, Extrasystoles, Atrioventricular block, Exanthema, Erythema (skin redness), Itching, Edema (swelling), Hair loss, Erythema multiforme, Muscle weakness, Muscle cramp, Breathlessness, Pneumonitis, Agranulocytosis (deficiency of granulocytes in the blood), Aplastic anemia, Visual impairment, Blurred vision, Cataract, Retinal disorders, Optic neuropathy, General discomfort, Fatigue, Sweating, Chills, Dyspepsia, Delayed hemolysis, Immune hemolytic anemia, Pancreatic inflammation, Hypersensitivity, Anaphylactic reaction
Available Medicine for Artesunate + Mefloquine
Expert advice for Artesunate + Mefloquine
- You have been prescribed Artesunate + Mefloquine for the treatment of acute uncomplicated malaria that is resistant to other antimalarial medications such as chloroquine.
- Finish the prescribed course, even if you start to feel better. Stopping it early may make the infection come back and harder to treat.
- It should be taken with food or drinks rich in fat such as milk.
- It may cause fatigue and dizziness. Use caution while driving or doing anything that requires concentration.
- If you vomit within 1 hour of taking the tablets, take another dose.
- Inform your doctor if you have kidney, liver or heart disease.
- Tips to reduce the chance of being bitten by mosquitoes:
- Wear light-coloured and covered clothing when you are outside after sunset.
- Use insect repellent creams or sprays on parts of your body not covered by clothing.
- Spray to kill any mosquitoes that may have entered rooms in spite of screening.