Artiwel
Artiwel Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Food Interaction and all others data.
Artesunate is a potent and rapidly-acting blood schizontocide derived from the leaves of the chinese herb, Armesia annua. The exact mode of action is not clear but clinical studies have confirmed the effectiveness of artesunate in P. vivax and falciparum malaria.
Artesunate is an artemisinin derivative that is metabolized to DHA, which generates free radicals to inhibit normal function of Plasmodium parasites. It has a short duration of action due to its short half life, and a moderate therapeutic index. Patients should be counselled regarding the risk of post treatment hemolytic anemia and hypersenstivity.
| Trade Name | Artiwel |
| Generic | Artesunate + Mefloquine (HCl) |
| Weight | 100mg, 200mg |
| Type | Tablet |
| Therapeutic Class | |
| Manufacturer | Weather Folds Pharmaceuticals |
| Available Country | Pakistan |
| Last Updated: | September 19, 2023 at 7:00 am |
Uses
Artesunate can quickly and reliably control the acute attack of malaria. It is suitable to salvage the patients with pernicious malaria and treat P. falciparum malaria and P. vivax malaria. It is effective against malaria caused by chloroquine resistant strain of plasmodium falciparum.
Artiwel is also used to associated treatment for these conditions: Acute Uncomplicated Plasmodium Falciparum Malaria, Malaria, Cerebral, Severe Malaria
How Artiwel works
Artesunate is metabolized to the active DHA. the endoperoxide bridge of DHA reacts with heme, generating free radicals which inhibit protein and nucleic acid synthesis of the Plasmodium parasites during all erythrocytic stages. Reactions with these free radicals can also lead to alkylation of parasitic proteins such as a calcium adenosine triphosphatase and EXP1, a glutathione S-transferase.
Dosage
Artiwel dosage
Adult: 5 days treatment: on the 1st day 2 tablets twice and 2nd day onward 1 tablet twice daily for remaining 4 days
Children:
- 1-3 years: 5 days treatment: on the 1st day ½ tablet twice and 2nd day onward ¼ tablet twice daily for remaining 4 days
- 4-5 years: 5 days treatment: on the 1st day 1 tablet twice and 2nd day onward ½ tablet twice daily for remaining 4 days
- 6-12 years: 5 days treatment: on the 1st day ½ tablet twice, 2nd day 1 tablet twice and 3rd day onward ½ tablet twice daily for remaining 3 days
Prophylmcis: 100 mg tablet once a week, from 1 week before entering malarial areas, to 4 weeks after leaving the area.
Side Effects
Transient and reversible reticulocytopaenia, drug fever, rash, bradycardia, transient 1st-degree heart block and reversible elevation of serum transaminases.
Toxicity
Data regarding overdoses of artesunate are rare. Patients experiencing an overdose may present with pancytopenia, melena, seizures, multiorgan failure, and death. Treat overdose with symptomatic and supportive measures.
Precaution
Hepatic or renal insufficiency; Pregnancy and lactation.
Interaction
Antimalarial potentiating action seen with mefloquine, primaquine and tetracycline. Additive effect with chloroquine. Antagonistic effect with pyrimethamine and sulphonamides.
Volume of Distribution
The volume of distribution of artesunate is 68.5L while the volume of distribution of DHA is 59.7L.
Elimination Route
The Cmax of artesunate is 3.3µg/mL while the Cmax of the active metabolite DHA is 3.1µg/mL. The AUC of artesunate is 0.7µg*h/mL while the AUC of DHA is 3.5µg*h/mL. After intravenous artesunate, DHA has a Tmax of 0.5-15 minutes in adult patients and 21-64 minutes in pediatric patients. Intramuscular artesunate has a Tmax of 8-12 minutes. Infants less than 6 months old will have a higher AUC due to an undeveloped UGT metabolic pathway.
Half Life
The elimination half life of artesunate is 0.3h with a range of 0.1-1.8h. The elimination half life of DHA is 1.3h with a range of 0.9-2.9h. Half life after intramuscular administration is 48 min in children and 41 min in adults.
Clearance
The clearance of artesunate is 180L/h while the clearance of DHA is 32.3L/h.
Elimination Route
The main route of elimination in humans is unknown. In rats, a dose of artesunate is 56.1% eliminated in the urine and 38.5% in the feces.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding use
Pregnancy category is not classified. FDA has yet not classified the drug into a specific pregnancy catagory.
Contraindication
Hypersensitivity.
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