Artemether 40 mg Injection
- Product Name: Artemether 40 mg Injection
- Available Strength: 40 mg per 1 mL (typical); oily solution in glass ampoule
- Packing: 10x1ml Amp
- Pack Insert/Leaflet: Yes
- Dosage Form: Artemether 40 mg Injection
- Excipients (Typical): Vegetable oil vehicle (e.g., sesame/soy/peanut oil), antioxidants/stabilizers as per manufacturer
- Packaging: Box of 5 or 10 ampoules; disposable syringes/needles as per local pack
- Storage: Below 30 °C; protect from light; do not freeze
- Therapeutic Category: Antimalarial (artemisinin derivative) for severe malaria when IV therapy is not available/feasible
Artemether is a lipid-soluble artemisinin derivative formulated as an oily IM injection for the emergency management of severe or complicated malaria, predominantly due to Plasmodium falciparum. It provides rapid parasite clearance. Current guidelines generally prefer IV artesunate where available; artemether IM is used as an effective alternative/bridging option when IV access or artesunate is not immediately accessible.
Active Ingredient: Artemether
Class: Artemisinin derivative (prodrug)
Mechanism of Action: Rapid conversion to dihydroartemisinin (DHA); endoperoxide bridge activation in the parasite’s food vacuole generates reactive radicals that alkylate essential parasite proteins → swift killing of blood-stage parasites (including early ring stages).
Onset of Action: Fast (clinical improvement typically within hours)
Half-life: Artemether ~1–3 h; active metabolite (DHA) slightly longer
Resistance Profile: Active against multidrug-resistant P. falciparum; always used as part of a complete regimen (with oral ACT step-down) to prevent recrudescence
Class: Artemisinin derivative (prodrug)
Mechanism of Action: Rapid conversion to dihydroartemisinin (DHA); endoperoxide bridge activation in the parasite’s food vacuole generates reactive radicals that alkylate essential parasite proteins → swift killing of blood-stage parasites (including early ring stages).
Onset of Action: Fast (clinical improvement typically within hours)
Half-life: Artemether ~1–3 h; active metabolite (DHA) slightly longer
Resistance Profile: Active against multidrug-resistant P. falciparum; always used as part of a complete regimen (with oral ACT step-down) to prevent recrudescence
Severe/complicated malaria (e.g., cerebral malaria, shock, organ dysfunction) when IV therapy (preferably artesunate) is unavailable or delayed
Patients without reliable IV access (field settings) as initial parenteral therapy before transfer/step-down to oral ACT
Patients without reliable IV access (field settings) as initial parenteral therapy before transfer/step-down to oral ACT
Typical IM artemether regimen for severe malaria:
Loading dose: 3.2 mg/kg IM at 0 hour
Maintenance doses: 1.6 mg/kg IM once daily at 24, 48, and 72 hours (total 5 doses over 4 days)
Transition: As soon as the patient can tolerate oral medication and is clinically stable, switch to a full course of oral ACT (e.g., artemether–lumefantrine) to complete treatment.
Administration notes
Inject deep IM (anterolateral thigh in small children; gluteal/ventrogluteal in older children/adults).
Do not give IV.
Do not split a single dose into multiple small injections unless necessary for volume tolerance.
If patient vomits or deteriorates, reassess urgently and establish IV access for artesunate where possible.
Loading dose: 3.2 mg/kg IM at 0 hour
Maintenance doses: 1.6 mg/kg IM once daily at 24, 48, and 72 hours (total 5 doses over 4 days)
Transition: As soon as the patient can tolerate oral medication and is clinically stable, switch to a full course of oral ACT (e.g., artemether–lumefantrine) to complete treatment.
Administration notes
Inject deep IM (anterolateral thigh in small children; gluteal/ventrogluteal in older children/adults).
Do not give IV.
Do not split a single dose into multiple small injections unless necessary for volume tolerance.
If patient vomits or deteriorates, reassess urgently and establish IV access for artesunate where possible.
Preferred therapy: Use IV artesunate where available; IM artemether is an alternative/bridge.
Allergy to oil excipient: Check for sesame/peanut/soy allergy depending on vehicle oil used.
Hepatic/Renal impairment: Use with caution; monitor clinically and via labs where feasible.
Hemolysis monitoring: Although less common than with artesunate, monitor for post-treatment hemolysis if clinically indicated (fatigue, jaundice, dark urine).
Pregnancy: If severe malaria in pregnancy, parenteral artemisinin derivatives are generally indicated—follow national/WHO guidance.
Drug interactions: Fewer clinically significant interactions parenterally; exercise caution with potent CYP inducers/inhibitors if/when switching to oral combinations.
Allergy to oil excipient: Check for sesame/peanut/soy allergy depending on vehicle oil used.
Hepatic/Renal impairment: Use with caution; monitor clinically and via labs where feasible.
Hemolysis monitoring: Although less common than with artesunate, monitor for post-treatment hemolysis if clinically indicated (fatigue, jaundice, dark urine).
Pregnancy: If severe malaria in pregnancy, parenteral artemisinin derivatives are generally indicated—follow national/WHO guidance.
Drug interactions: Fewer clinically significant interactions parenterally; exercise caution with potent CYP inducers/inhibitors if/when switching to oral combinations.
Artemether Injection 40 mg/L
Common: Pain/tenderness at injection site, transient fever, headache, dizziness, nausea/vomiting
Less common: Mild transient transaminase elevations
Rare/serious: Hypersensitivity (including to oil vehicle), neurotoxicity (very rare at therapeutic dosing), severe hemolysis (rare)
Less common: Mild transient transaminase elevations
Rare/serious: Hypersensitivity (including to oil vehicle), neurotoxicity (very rare at therapeutic dosing), severe hemolysis (rare)
Specifications: Complies with relevant pharmacopeial/market authorization standards (assay, related substances, sterility, endotoxin, particulate matter, fill volume, container integrity).
Stability: Protect from light; maintain recommended storage to preserve potency.
Stability: Protect from light; maintain recommended storage to preserve potency.
Rapid-acting parenteral antimalarial suited for settings lacking immediate IV access.
Standard regimen: 3.2 mg/kg once, then 1.6 mg/kg daily × 4; always complete therapy with an oral ACT once feasible.
Check oil-vehicle allergies; administer deep IM only.
When available, IV artesunate remains the first-line for severe malaria.
Standard regimen: 3.2 mg/kg once, then 1.6 mg/kg daily × 4; always complete therapy with an oral ACT once feasible.
Check oil-vehicle allergies; administer deep IM only.
When available, IV artesunate remains the first-line for severe malaria.