Coartem

What is Coartem?

Coartem contains a combination of artemether and lumefantrine. Artemether and lumefantrine are anti-malaria medicines that interfere with the growth of parasites in the red blood cells of the human body. Malaria is caused by parasites that enter the body through the bite of a mosquito. Malaria is common in areas such as Africa, South America, and Southern Asia.

Coartem is used to treat non-severe malaria.

Coartem is used only to treat malaria. Do not use this medicine to prevent malaria.

Warnings

Serious drug interactions can occur when certain medicines are used together. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using, especially carbamazepine, phenytoin, rifampin, or St. John’s wort.

Before taking this medicine

You should not use Coartem if you are allergic to artemether or lumefantrine.

Some medicines can interact with artemether and lumefantrine and should not be used at the same time. Your doctor may need to change your treatment plan if you use any of the following drugs:

• rifampin;
• St. John’s wort; or
• seizure medicine – carbamazepine, phenytoin.

Tell your doctor about all other anti-malaria medications you have used within the past 30 days.

To make sure Coartem is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• heart disease;
• long QT syndrome (in you or a family member);
• liver or kidney disease;
• low levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood.

It is not known whether Coartem will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

Use a barrier form of birth control (condom or diaphragm with spermicide). Hormonal contraception (birth control pills, injections, implants, skin patches, and vaginal rings) may not be effective enough to prevent pregnancy during your treatment.

It is not known whether artemether and lumefantrine passes into breast milk or if it could affect the nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding.

Coartem should not be given to a child who weighs less than 11 pounds.