Coartem

artemether-lumefantrine

(ar-te-meth-er loo-me-fan-treen) ,

Coartem

(trade name) Pregnancy Category: C

Indications

Action

Pharmacokinetics

Time/action profile (antimalarial effect)

ROUTE	ONSET	PEAK†	DURATION
artemether PO	unknown	2 hr	hrs
lumefantrine PO	unknown	6–8 hr	days

†blood levels

Contraindications/Precautions

Adverse Reactions/Side Effects

Central nervous system

• dizziness (most frequent)
• fatigue (most frequent)
• headache (most frequent)
• sleep disorder (most frequent)
• weakness (most frequent)
• insomnia
• malaise

Ear, Eye, Nose, Throat

• vertigo

Respiratory

• cough

Cardiovascular

• palpitations (most frequent)

Gastrointestinal

• abdominal pain (most frequent)
• anorexia (most frequent)
• nausea (most frequent)
• vomiting (most frequent)
• diarrhea
• hepatomegaly
• splenomegaly

Dermatologic

• pruritus

Hematologic

• anemia

Musculoskeletal

• arthrlagia (most frequent)
• myalgia (most frequent)

Miscellaneous

• hypersensitivity reactions including urticaria and angioedema (life-threatening)
• chills (most frequent)
• fever (most frequent)

Interactions

Drug-Drug interaction

Concurrent use with strong CYP3A4 inducers including rifampin, carbamazepine, or phenytoin, may ↓ levels and efficacy; concurrent use contraindicatedConcurrent use other antimalarials should be avoided due to lack of safety data.Concurrent use with any other drugs that prolong QTc interval including quinine, class IA antiarrhythmics (quinidine, procainamide, disopyramide ), class III antiarrhythmics (amiodarone, sotalol ), antipsychotics (pimozide, ziprasidone ); antidepressants ; or certain anti-infectives (macrolides, fluoroquinolones, imidazoles/triazoles ); should be avoided. CYP3A4 inhibitors may ↑ levels and the risk of QT interval prolongation. Effectiveness may be ↓ by mefloquine if used immediately before treatment (encourage food consumption).May ↓ effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives (additional method of birth control should be used).Concurrent use of antiretrovirals may ↑ risk of QTc prolongation, ↓ anti-retroviral efficacy, or ↓ antimalarial efficacy.Concurrent use of CYP2D6 substrates including flecainide, imipramine, amitriptyline and clomipramine may ↑ risk of adverse reactions and/or ↑ risk of QTc prolongation; avoid concurrent use.St. John's wort may ↓ concentrations; concurrent use contraindicatedGrapefruit juicemay ↑ blood levels and risk of QTc prolongation and should be avoided.

Route/Dosage

Availability

Nursing implications

Nursing assessment

• Assess patient for improvement in signs and symptoms of malaria (fever, chills, muscle pains, headache) periodically during therapy.
• Lab Test Considerations: May cause ↑ AST, ↑ ALT, ↓ hematocrit, ↑ or ↓ WBC, ↑ or ↓ platelet count, and eosinophilia.
  • May cause hypokalemia.

Potential Nursing Diagnoses

Risk for infection (Indications)

Implementation

• Oral: Administer with food. Tablets may be crushed and mixed with 1–2 tsp water immediately before administration for patients with difficulty swallowing. Rinse container with more water and have patient swallow contents. Follow with food or drink (milk, formula, pudding, broth, porridge) if possible. Lack of adequate food increases risk for malaria relapse.
• If vomiting occurs within 1–2 hr of administration, repeat dose. If repeat dose is vomited, use an alternative antimalarial.

Patient/Family Teaching

• Instruct patient to take medication as directed. Advise patient to resume eating as soon as food can be tolerated; improves absorption of medication. Advise patient to notify health care professional of flu-like symptoms (chills, fever, muscle pains, headache) occur again after finishing medication. Instruct patient to read Medication Guide before starting therapy and with each Rx refill in case of changes.
• Advise patient to notify health care professional if they have taken other medications to treat malaria recently.
• Advise patient to avoid drinking grapefruit juice during therapy; may cause increased concentrations and risk of arrhythmias.
• May cause dizziness. Caution patient to avoid driving and other activities requiring alertness until response to medication is known.
• Advise patient to notify health care professional if symptoms of prolongation of the QT interval (prolonged heart palpitations, loss of consciousness) occur.
• Instruct patient to notify health care professional immediately if signs of hypersensitivity (skin rash, hives, other skin reactions, rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing or swallowing, swelling of the lips, tongue, face, tightness or throat, hoarseness) occur.
• Instruct patient to notify health care professional of all Rx or OTC medications, vitamins, or herbal products being taken and consult health care professional before taking any new medications, especially St. John's Wort.
• Review methods of minimizing exposure to mosquitoes with patient.
• Advise female patient to notify health care professional if pregnancy is planned or suspected or if breastfeeding. Medication may cause loss of pregnancy and decreased effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives; advise patient to use a non-hormonal form of birth control during therapy.

Evaluation/Desired Outcomes

• Resolution of fever and clearance of parasites from blood.