Artemether

Injection:

• 20mg/mL
• 40mg/mL
• 80mg/mL

IM:

• Administer deep IM, typically in the anterolateral thigh
• Monitor clinical response and switch to oral therapy when feasible

OP:

• Take with food or milk (to improve absorption, especially of partner drug)
• Complete full treatment course even if symptoms resolve early

Artemisinin

Artemether and metabolite dihydroartemisinin act via endoperoxide moiety to inhibit nucleic acid/protein synthesis during erythrocytic stages of P. falciparum

Common:

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Fever
• Abdominal pain
• Nausea, vomiting

Serious (rare):

• QT interval prolongation (especially with combination therapy)
• Hypersensitivity reactions
• Neurotoxicity (seen mostly in high animal doses, not common in humans)

• Known hypersensitivity to artemether or other artemisinin derivatives
• Cardiac conduction disorders (especially with QT prolongation)

• Caution with other QT-prolonging drugs (e.g., macrolides, quinolones, antipsychotics)
• CYP3A4 inducers/inhibitors can affect artemether levels
• e.g., rifampin may reduce efficacy
• ketoconazole may increase toxicity risk
• Avoid with grapefruit juice