Artemisinin (Artemisinin)
Overview of Artemisinin
Artemisinin is an antimalarial, belongs to sesquiterpene lactone endoperoxide group. Artemisinin is derived from the weed qing hao (Artemisia annua), also called as wormwood or annual wormwood. The medicinal value has been known for more than 2000 years. It and related drugs are the most rapidly acting, effective and safe drugs for the treatment of severe malaria, including infection due to chloroquine and mutidrug-resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum. It should not be used for prophylaxis of malaria or treatment of mild attacks.
Indication of Artemisinin
Artemisinin is primarily indicated in conditions like Chloroquine resistant malaria, Complicated and severe malaria, Uncomplicated malaria.
Contraindication of Artemisinin
Artemisinin is contraindicated in conditions like Malaria prophylaxis.
Side Effects of Artemisinin
The severe or irreversible adverse effects of Artemisinin, which give rise to further complications include Jaundice, Neurotoxicity, Cardiovascular toxicity.,The signs and symptoms that are produced after the acute overdosage of Artemisinin include Cardiovascular disturbances.,The symptomatic adverse reactions produced by Artemisinin are more or less tolerable and if they become severe, they can be treated symptomatically, these include Dizziness, Nausea, Vomiting, Fever, Abdominal cramps, Tinnitus, Abdominal pain, Skin rashes, Sweating, Pruritus, Hypotension, Somnolence, Darkening of urine, Decreased reticulocytes, Transient low fever.
Precautions of Artemisinin
Care should be taken when using to treat the women being pregnant with in three months or patients with vomiting severely.