E-DRUG: Dose of artesunate and amodiaquine (2)
----------------------------------------------
Dear E-drug,
In reply to the question of Godspower Okangba the following:
Artesunate can best be given as a single dose once a day.
In view of the shortly forthcoming fixed dose artesunate - amodiaquine tablets it will be necessary to take the amodiaquine at the same time, hence the dose of amodiaquine is given as a single dose per day. FDC Tablets e.g. contain 100 mg artesunate and 306.2 mg amodiaquine base. This will simplify drug administration and improve compliance: only one tablet per day for 3 consecutive days, applicable for children and youngsters, and two tablets per day for adults.
For contraindications: only those of amodiaquine apply. There are no proper contraindications for artesunate apart from pregnancy.
Syrup of artesunate-amodiaquine: With amodiaquine there is no problem but artesunate is far too unstable to be used in a suspension or in a syrup, apart from problems of dissolution. What can be done is to crush the fixed dose tablet and sprinkle it over food or give it with some sweet fruit juice. The bitterness comes mainly from the amodiaquine.
Sincerely yours,
Dr. F.H. Jansen
Dafra Pharma nv
Belgium
Fhjansen@skynet.be