Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jan 28, 2022.
Uses for artesunate
Artesunate injection is used to treat severe malaria. Artesunate is also used together with other medicines (eg, 8-aminoquinoline medicine) to treat severe malaria caused by Plasmodium ovale or Plasmodium vivax.
Artesunate belongs to a group of medicines known as antimalarials. It treats malaria, a red blood cell infection transmitted by the bite of a mosquito. However, artesunate is not used to prevent malaria.
Artesunate is to be given only by or under the immediate supervision of your doctor.
Before using artesunate
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For artesunate, the following should be considered:
Allergies
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to artesunate or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.
Pediatric
Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of artesunate injection in children.
Geriatric
Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of artesunate injection in the elderly.
Breastfeeding
There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.
Interactions with medicines
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving artesunate, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potentia...
