Artemether
Artemether (pronounced: /ɑːrˈtɛmɪθər/) is a medication used for the treatment of malaria. The drug is in the artemisinin class of medications and is derived from the plant Artemisia annua, also known as sweet wormwood.
Etymology
The term "Artemether" is derived from the plant Artemisia annua from which it is extracted, and "ether", referring to its chemical structure.
Usage
Artemether is typically used in combination with lumefantrine and is known as artemether/lumefantrine. The combination is recommended by the World Health Organization for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Artemether is also used in the prevention of malaria in areas where there is resistance to other drugs.
Mechanism of Action
Artemether is a prodrug and is converted to the active metabolite dihydroartemisinin (DHA) in the body. It works by damaging the parasite's food source, heme, which is essential for its survival.
Side Effects
Common side effects include muscle and joint pain, fever, and headache. Serious side effects may include QT prolongation, which can lead to serious heart problems.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Artemether
- Wikipedia's article - Artemether
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski