Artesunate injection is an antimalarial agent introduced as an initial treatment of severe malaria in adult/pediatric patients. Treatment of severe malaria with artesunate 60 mg injection must always be followed by a full treatment course of an apt oral antimalarial regimen.
Artesunate injection basically does not treat the hypnozoite liver stage forms of Plasmodium and is therefore unable to prevent the relapses of malaria because of the Plasmodium vivax or Plasmodium ovale.
The concomitant therapy and an antimalarial medication such as an 8-aminoquinoline are important in treating severe malaria due to P. vivax or P. ovale.
Approval: Artesunate specifically falls under the artemisinin class of medication. In 1977, it was developed by Liu Xu. It is on the WHO's List of Essential Medicines. In May 2020, it was approved for medical use in the United States.
Dosage Form: Artesunate comes in the form of injection generically and under the brand name Falcigo. The standard dose of artesunate injection is 2.4 mg per kg given intravenously at 0 hours, 12 hours, and 24 hours, and thereafter, administered once in a day until the patient is capable of tolerating the oral antimalarial therapy.
Side Effects: Side effects of artesunate are usually mild and not life threatening. The commonly reported side effects may include kidney failure requiring dialysis, jaundice, and hemoglobinuria (the presence of hemoglobin in urine).
Cost: The artesunate 60 mg price in India may vary depending on the wholesaler or pharmacy and of course the brand you choose. The cost of artesunate is around Rs. 224 for a supply of vial of 1 injection.
