Type of medicine: antimalarial
Generic and brand names: artemether and lumefantrine, oral; Coartem
This medicine is a combination of 2 drugs taken by mouth to treat malaria.
Before you take this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have:
Also, tell your healthcare provider if are taking any heart medicines, antipsychotics, antidepressants, antibiotics, or antifungals, or if you have recently taken any other medicines to treat malaria.
Females of childbearing age: Talk with your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. This medicine may make hormonal birth control less effective. If you need birth control, talk to your healthcare provider about methods that are effective while you are taking this medicine. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.
Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Take this medicine exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes. Do not take more than your healthcare provider prescribes.
Take this medicine with food, milk, or broth. If you are unable to swallow the tablets, you may crush the tablets and mix with 1 or 2 teaspoons of water right before you take the dose. Rinse the container with more water and swallow the contents.
It is important to try to eat during treatment. It helps the medicine to work better so your malaria will go away and not get worse.
If you vomit within 1 to 2 hours of taking this medicine, take another dose. If you vomit the second dose, tell your healthcare provider. You may need to take a different medicine.
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.
If you or anyone else has intentionally taken too much of this medicine, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. If you pass out, have seizures, weakness or confusion, or have trouble breathing, call 911. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. The poison control center number is 800-222-1222.
Symptoms of an acute overdose have not been reported.
Contact your healthcare provider if your condition does not improve or if it gets worse. Tell your provider if you have chills, fever, muscle pains, or headaches after you have finished treatment with this medicine.
It is important for you to eat as soon as you can so that your malaria will go away and not get worse. Tell your healthcare provider if you are not able to eat during treatment with this medicine.
If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.
Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.
Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).
Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Fainting; fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat; inability to eat; severe nausea or vomiting; chills, fever, muscle pains, or headaches after you finish taking this medicine.
Other: Headache, dizziness, weakness, loss of appetite, vomiting, cough, tiredness, fever, chills, muscle or joint pain, trouble sleeping, diarrhea, runny nose.
When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:
The effects of this medicine may be increased if you take it with grapefruit juice. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.
If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.
Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.
This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.
Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.
Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.
Do not share medicines with other people.
