Lumertam

Patients with acute malaria are frequently averse to food. The dose should be taken with high fat food or drinks such as milk. In the event of vomiting within 1 hour of administration a repeat dose should be taken.

Adults and children weighing 35 kg and above: A standard 3 days treatment schedule with a total of 6 doses is recommended dosage is 4 tablets as a single dose at the time of initial diagnosis, again 4 tablets after eight hours, and then 4 tablets twice daily (morning and evening) on each of the following two days (Total course comprises 24 tablets).

5 to <15 kg body weight: 1 tablet at the time of initial diagnosis, 1 tablet again after 8 hours and then 1 tablet twice daily (morning and evening) on each of the following two days (Total course comprises of 6 tablets).

15 to <25 kg body weight: 2 tablets as a single dose at the time of initial diagnosis , 2 tablets again after 8 hours and then 2 tablets twice daily (morning and evening) on each of the following two days (Total course comprises 12 tablets).

25 to <35 kg body weight: 3 tablets as a single dose at the time of initial diagnosis, 3 tablets again after 8 hours and then 3 tablets twice daily (morning and evening) on each of the following two days (Total courses comprises 18 tablets).

It is generally very well tolerated by children and adults, with most adverse effects are of mild to moderate severity and duration. Hypersensitivity, headache, dizziness, sleep disorder, somnolence, involuntary muscle contractions, paraesthesia, hypoesthesia, abnormal gait, ataxia, palpitation, cough, abdominal pain, anorexia, diarrhoea, vomiting, nausea, pruritus, rash, arthralgia, myalgia, asthenia, fatigue.

In cases of suspected over dosage, symptomatic and supportive therapy should be given as appropriate. ECG and blood potassium level should be monitored.

This preparation contains a fixed ratio of 1:6 parts of Artemether and Lumefantrine respectively. Artemether is a derivative of naturally occurring substance Artemisinin. Lumefantrine is a synthetic racemic fluorine mixture belonging to the aryl amino alcohol family like other anti-malarials (e.g. Quinine, mafloquine, halofantrine). Both components act in the food vacuoles of malarial parasites, where they are thought to interfere with the conversion of haem, a toxic intermediate formed during haemoglobin breakdown, to the non-toxic haemozin (a malaria pigment). Lumefantrine is thought to interfere with the polymerization process, while Artemether generates reactive metabolites as a result of interaction between the peroxide bridge and haem iron. Both Artemether and Lumefantrine have a secondary action involving inhibition of nucleic acid - protein synthesis within the malarial parasites. This tablet did not induce resistance. This tablet is active against blood stages of Plasmodium vivax, but it is not active against hypnozoites. Therefore, sequential treatment with premaquine should be used to achieve hypnozoite eradication.

This has not been evaluated for prophylaxis and is therefore not indicated. This is also not evaluated for the treatment of cerebral malaria or other severe manifestations of severe malaria including pulmonary oedema or renal failure.

Anti-malarial drugs