QuickView for Artemether (compound)

Summary
General Info

PubChem

PubChem Compound 10266705

Name:	artemether
PubChem Compound ID:	10266705
Molecular formula:	C₁₆H₂₆O₅
Molecular weight:	298.375 g/mol

DrugBank

Identification

Name:	artemether
Name (isomeric):	DB06697
Drug Type:	small molecule
Synonyms:	Dihydroartemisinin methyl ether
Brand:	Coartem
Brand name mixture:	Coartem(artemether, lumefantrine), Riamet(artemether, lumefantrine)
Category:	Antimalarials, Antiprotozoal Agents, Antimalarial Agents
CAS number:	71963-77-4

Pharmacology

Indication:	Artemether and lumefantrine combination therapy is indicated for the treatment of acute uncomplicated malaria caused by <i>Plasmodium falciparum</i>, including malaria acquired in chloroquine-resistant areas. May also be used to treat uncomplicated malaria when the <i>Plasmodium</i> species has not been identified. Indicated for use in adults and children greater than 5 kg.
Pharmacology:	In the body, artemether is metabolized into the active metabolite metabolite dihydroartemisinin. The drug works against the erythrocytic stages of P. falciparum by inhibiting nucleic acid and protein synthesis. Artemether is administered in combination with lumefantrine for improved efficacy. Artemether has a rapid onset of action and is rap... show more » In the body, artemether is metabolized into the active metabolite metabolite dihydroartemisinin. The drug works against the erythrocytic stages of P. falciparum by inhibiting nucleic acid and protein synthesis. Artemether is administered in combination with lumefantrine for improved efficacy. Artemether has a rapid onset of action and is rapidly cleared from the body. It is thought that artemether provides rapid symptomatic relief by reducing the number of malarial parasites. Lumefantrine has a much longer half life and is believed to clear residual parasites. show less «
Mechanism of Action:	Involves an interaction with ferriprotoporphyrin IX (“heme”), or ferrous ions, in the acidic parasite food vacuole, which results in the generation of cytotoxic radical species. The generally accepted mechanism of action of peroxide antimalarials involves interaction of the peroxide-containing drug with heme, a hemoglobin degradation byproduct, de... show more » Involves an interaction with ferriprotoporphyrin IX (“heme”), or ferrous ions, in the acidic parasite food vacuole, which results in the generation of cytotoxic radical species. The generally accepted mechanism of action of peroxide antimalarials involves interaction of the peroxide-containing drug with heme, a hemoglobin degradation byproduct, derived from proteolysis of hemoglobin. This interaction is believed to result in the formation of a range of potentially toxic oxygen and carbon-centered radicals. show less «
Absorption:	Food increases absorption.
Protein binding:	Artemether, 95.4%; Dihydroartemisinin, 47-76%
Biotransformation:	Rapidly metablized to its active metabolite, dihydroartemisinin.
Half Life:	Artemether, 1.6 +/- 0.7 and 2.2 +/- 1.9 hr; Dihydroartemisinin, 1.6 +/- 0.6 and 2.2 +/- 1.5 hr
Toxicity:	Common side effects of combination artemether/lumefantrine therapy in adults include headache, anorexia, dizziness, and asthenia. Common side effects in children include pyrexia, cough, vomiting, anorexia, and headache. Possible serious adverse effects include QT prolongation, bullous eruption, urticaria, splenomegaly (9%), hepatomegaly (adults, 9%; children, 6%), hypersensitivty reaction, and angioedema.
Affected organisms:	Plasmodium

Interactions

Food interaction:

Take with food as food increases the absorption of artemether and lumefantrine.

Grapefruit juice may increase the toxicity of artemether and lumefantrine by inhibiting their metabolism.

Drug interaction:

Pimozide	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy is contraindicated.
Chlorpromazine	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Moxifloxacin	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Trimipramine	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Norgestrel	Artemether may decrease the effectiveness of norgestrel by increasing its metabolism via CYP3A4. Consider an alternate non-hormonal means of contraception during artemether therapy.

Pimozide	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy is contraindicated.
Chlorpromazine	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Moxifloxacin	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Trimipramine	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Norgestrel	Artemether may decrease the effectiveness of norgestrel by increasing its metabolism via CYP3A4. Consider an alternate non-hormonal means of contraception during artemether therapy.
Azithromycin	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Clomipramine	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Dasatinib	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Proguanil	Proguanil may increase the adverse effects of artemether. Combination therapy is contraindicated unless there are no other treatment options.
Loxapine	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Apomorphine	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Protriptyline	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Chloroquine	Chloroquine may increase the adverse effects of artemether. Combination therapy is contraindicated unless there are no other treatment options.
Conivaptan	Conivaptan, a strong CYP3A inhibitor, may increase the toxicity of artemether by inhibiting its metabolism. Consider alternate therapy or allow at least 7 days to elapse between conivaptan and artemether therapy.
Domperidone	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Ziprasidone	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Fluconazole	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Pazopanib	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Indapamide	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Mesoridazine	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Propafenone	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Thioridazine	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy is contraindicated.
Nilotinib	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Amiodarone	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Maprotiline	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Foscarnet	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Asenapine	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Probucol	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Norethindrone	Artemether may decrease the effectiveness of norethindrone by increasing its metabolism via CYP3A4. Consider an alternate non-hormonal means of contraception during artemether therapy.
Amitriptyline	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Ibutilide	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Sparfloxacin	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Ranolazine	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Saquinavir	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Toremifene	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Flupenthixol	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Flecainide	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Erythromycin	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Medroxyprogesterone	Artemether may decrease the effectiveness of medroxyprogesterone by increasing its metabolism via CYP3A4. Consider an alternate non-hormonal means of contraception during artemether therapy.
Methotrimeprazine	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Disopyramide	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Sunitinib	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
telavancin	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Desipramine	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Desogestrel	Artemether may decrease the effectiveness of desogestrel by increasing its metabolism via CYP3A4. Consider an alternate non-hormonal means of contraception during artemether therapy.
Gadobutrol	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Pentamidine	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Quinidine	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Dronedarone	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy is contraindicated.
Halofantrine	Halofantrine may increase the adverse effects of artemether. Combination therapy is contraindicated unless there are no other treatment options.
Dolasetron	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Romidepsin	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Haloperidol	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Hydroxychloroquine	Hydroxychloroquine may increase the adverse effects of artemether. Combination therapy is contraindicated unless there are no other treatment options.
Ethinyl Estradiol	Artemether may decrease the effectiveness of ethinyl estradiol by increasing its metabolism via CYP3A4. Consider an alternate non-hormonal means of contraception during artemether therapy.
Quinine	Quinine may increase the adverse effects of artemether. Combination therapy is contraindicated unless there are no other treatment options.
Ethynodiol Diacetate	Artemether may decrease the effectiveness of ethynodiol diacetate by increasing its metabolism via CYP3A4. Consider an alternate non-hormonal means of contraception during artemether therapy.
Nortriptyline	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Sotalol	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Tacrolimus	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Amoxapine	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Primaquine	Primaquine may increase the adverse effects of artemether. Combination therapy is contraindicated unless there are no other treatment options.
Drospirenone	Artemether may decrease the effectiveness of drospirinone by increasing its metabolism via CYP3A4. Consider an alternate non-hormonal means of contraception during artemether therapy.
Norelgestromin	Artemether may decrease the effectiveness of norelgestromin by increasing its metabolism via CYP3A4. Consider an alternate non-hormonal means of contraception during artemether therapy.
Levofloxacin	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Tetrabenazine	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Voriconazole	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Citalopram	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Procainamide	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Mefloquine	Mefloquine may increase the adverse effects of artemether. Combination therapy is contraindicated unless there are no other treatment options.
Quetiapine	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Dofetilide	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Isradipine	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Vorinostat	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Methadone	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Perflutren	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Degarelix	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Risperidone	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Imipramine	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Mestranol	Artemether may decrease the effectiveness of mestranol by increasing its metabolism via CYP3A4. Consider an alternate non-hormonal means of contraception during artemether therapy.
Clarithromycin	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Telithromycin	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Lapatinib	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Doxepin	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Thiothixene	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Escitalopram	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Pyrimethamine	Pyrimethamine may increase the adverse effects of artemether. Combination therapy is contraindicated unless there are no other treatment options.
Norfloxacin	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Octreotide	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Gadofosveset trisodium	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Cisapride	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Arsenic trioxide	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Levonorgestrel	Artemether may decrease the effectiveness of levonorgestrel by increasing its metabolism via CYP3A4. Consider an alternate non-hormonal means of contraception during artemether therapy.
Fluoxetine	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Droperidol	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Norgestimate	Artemether may decrease the effectiveness of norgestimate by increasing its metabolism via CYP3A4. Consider an alternate non-hormonal means of contraception during artemether therapy.
Iloperidone	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.
Etonogestrel	Artemether may decrease the effectiveness of etonogestrel by increasing its metabolism via CYP3A4. Consider an alternate non-hormonal means of contraception during artemether therapy.
Bepridil	Additive QTc-prolongation may occur. Concomitant therapy should be avoided.

Enzymes