Artesunate
Brand: Artesunate (IN/BD generic)
Antimalarial
Artemisinin derivative
Pharmacokinetics
| Half-life | 1 hours |
| Clearance Route | hepatic |
| Active Metabolites | yes |
| Notes | Rapid conversion to active metabolite dihydroartemisinin (DHA). Very short half-life; always used in combination to prevent resistance. Standard IV regimen in severe malaria followed by oral ACT. |
⚠️ Safety & Warnings
Severity: Moderate
Adverse Effects:
Generally well tolerated; transient neutropenia, mild liver enzyme elevation, rare delayed hemolysis after parenteral therapy.
Contraindications:
Known serious hypersensitivity to artesunate or other artemisinins.
Precautions:
Monitor for delayed hemolysis 1–3 weeks after IV course (Hb, LDH, bilirubin); always switch to full oral ACT after parenteral treatment.