Artesunate Injection (Falcigo) is prescribed as an initial treatment of severe malaria in adults as well as pediatric patients. In order to treat severe malaria with inj falcigo it is recommended that the treatment should always be followed by a complete course of an appropriate oral antimalarial regimen.
What is the recommended dosage of artesunate injection?
The recommended artesunate dosage is 2.4 mg/kg, which should be administered intravenously at 0, 12, and 24 hours, and thereafter, administered once in a day until the patient is able to tolerate oral antimalarial therapy. Constituted artesunate injection should be administered intravenously as a slow bolus over 1-2 minutes. Avoid administering artesunate 60 mg injection via continuous intravenous infusion.
Possible Side Effects: This drug is generally well tolerated. Although commonly reported side effects of falcigo may include:
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Bradycardia
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Abdominal pain
- Body ache
- Rare reported artesunate side effects may include:
- Rash
- Pruritus
- Neutropenia
- Seizures
- Tinnitus
- First degree heart block
- Elevated hepatic enzymes
- Prolongation of the QT interval
- Severe haemolysis may rarely occur in patients with hyperparasitism 2 to 4 weeks following treatment.
What does artesunate do?
Artesunate is specifically the first line treatment used for the severe malaria caused by the Plasmodium falciparum, in children as well adult patients. As a short-acting agent this medication kills parasites a quite rapidly than the conventional antimalarials, in particular because it is quite active against the sexual as well as asexual stages of the parasite cycle-killing all stages including young rings resulting in quickly recovery.
What are the Warning & Precautions?
- Patients should be monitored for 4 weeks following treatment with artesunate 60 mg for the evidence of hemolytic anemia.
- Patients must be monitored for the temperature as well as blood pressure especially in the earlier stages.
- Renal function, glucose, hepatic and haematological function should be monitored throughout the treatment.
- Patients need to be monitored for the signs of toxicity which include rash or vomiting.
- No dosage change is needed for the renal impairment.
- Care needs to be imposed in patients with the hepatic impairment due to the potential effects of hepatotoxic.
- This medication has been shown to prolong the QT interval.
- Resistance to falcigo 120 mg has been documented in some areas of the Greater Mekong Subregion (including Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar). Talk about infectious diseases/microbiology, especially if slow in order to respond.
- The falcigo 60 mg does not have activity against P. vivax or P. ovale hypnozoites. Co-infected patients with these species will also need therapy of eradication using primaquine.
What are contraindications of Artesunate?
The artesunate uses are contraindicated in patients with the history of hypersensitivity reaction to it ,dihydroartemisinin or any of the components of its formulation.
Storage: Vials of artesunate should be stored below 30˚C and protected from light. Once reconstituted, the solution must be used right away.
What is the best price of Artesunate? The artesunate injection price may vary from branded to non-branded drugs. Single vial of 60 mg injection (falcigo) is around 224 INR.
FAQ
What Artesunate is used for?
Artesunate (AS) is a medication used in order to treat malaria.
When Artesunate was developed?
In the year of 1977, the medication artesunate was developed by Liu Xu.
How can Artesunate be administered?
Artesunate can be administered by injection into a vein, injection into a muscle, by mouth, and by rectum.
What are the most commonly reported side effects due to Artesunate?
The most commonly reported side effects due to Artesunate include kidney failure requiring dialysis, jaundice and hemoglobinuria (the presence of hemoglobin in urine).
Is Artesunate well tolerated?
Yes, the medication Artesunate is generally well tolerated.
What if artesunate used during pregnancy?
Use of artesunate during pregnancy appears to be a safer option, even though animal studies have found harm to the baby. In order to know more regarding pregnancy, discuss with your doctor.
What if artesunate used during breastfeeding?
As this is the artemisinin class of medication, so the use of artesunate is likely fine during breastfeeding.
Can artesunate cure malaria?
The severe cases of malaria should be treated through intravenous (IV) antimalarial drugs. IV artesunate is the first-line medication in order to treat severe malaria in the US.
Is artesunate water soluble?
The medication artesunate is basically the semisynthetic product of the artemisinin. It is water soluble and may be considered by oral intake as well as intravenous/intramuscular injection.
NOTE: The piece of information provided in this article is just for informational purposes and is not served as a substitute for the medical treatment, consultation, diagnosis, of a qualified healthcare practitioner.
