Artemether + Lumefantrine
Also sold as: Coartem
Prescription neededMalaria medicines
Comes as:TabletDissolving tablet
Usual adult dose
Adults and children over 35 kg: 4 tablets (20/120 mg) per dose, 6 doses over 3 days (at 0, 8, 24, 36, 48 and 60 hours). Take with fatty food or milk. Children: dose by weight — ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Your doctor may give you a different dose. Children's doses depend on weight.
Side effects
Common
- headache
- dizziness
- loss of appetite
- tiredness
- muscle and joint pain
Serious — get help
Stop taking it and see a doctor straight away if you notice:
- fainting or irregular heartbeat
- severe allergic reaction
- seizures
Do not take it, or take care, if
- Severe malaria (needs injection treatment in hospital)
- Allergy to artemether or lumefantrine
- Heart rhythm problems (long QT)
- First 3 months of pregnancy (only if a doctor decides)
Interactions
Medicines that can react with this one.
Serious2 medicinesDo not take these together unless your doctor says so.
- Amiodarone
Both prolong the QT interval and can cause dangerous heart rhythms.
- Rifampicin