About Arceva Tablet 40mg / 240mg
Arceva Tablet 40mg / 240mg contains Artemether + Lumefantrine, an antimalarial for adult malaria treatment.
Arceva Tablet 40mg / 240mg Uses
- Treats uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in adults and higher weight patients
- Used in mixed malaria infections that include P. falciparum
- Suitable for patients weighing 35kg and above based on the dosing schedule
- Part of the WHO recommended artemisinin combination therapy (ACT)
Arceva Tablet 40mg / 240mg Benefits
- Higher strength tablet reduces the total number of tablets needed per dose in adults
- Combines a fast acting artemisinin derivative with a longer acting partner drug for complete parasite clearance
- Lowers the chance of malaria recurrence compared to artemisinin alone
- Convenient dosing helps improve treatment completion in adult patients
What Experts Say
Pakistan carries a significant malaria burden, especially in Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with cases rising during monsoon months. Physicians treat confirmed Plasmodium falciparum infections with artemisinin combination therapy since it clears parasites faster and lowers resistance risk. Doctors often prefer this higher strength tablet for adults since it lowers tablet count per dose.
Dosing is strictly weight based, and the 40mg/240mg strength allows adults weighing 35kg and above to complete the standard six dose regimen with fewer tablets per dose than the lower strength option. Taking each dose with a fatty meal meaningfully improves lumefantrine absorption, since it is fat soluble, and skipping this step can reduce treatment effectiveness.
Physicians typically request a follow up blood smear after the course finishes to confirm parasites have cleared. Adults with an existing heart rhythm disorder, or on medicines that affect heart rhythm, should be reviewed carefully before starting treatment. Warning signs of severe malaria such as confusion or breathing difficulty need immediate hospital care.
Drug Class
- Antimalarial (Artemisinin Combination Therapy)
Arceva Tablet 40mg / 240mg Uses in Urdu
- بالغ افراد میں ملیریا کے سادہ انفیکشن کے علاج کے لیے استعمال ہوتی ہے
- پلازموڈیم فالسیپیرم ملیریا کو ختم کرنے میں مدد دیتی ہے
- 35 کلوگرام یا اس سے زیادہ وزن کے مریضوں کے لیے موزوں ہے
- عالمی ادارہ صحت کی تجویز کردہ آرٹیمیسینن کومبینیشن تھراپی کا حصہ ہے
Arceva Tablet 40mg / 240mg formula
- Artemether + Lumefantrine
How to use Arceva Tablet 40mg / 240mg?
- Take exactly as prescribed by your doctor after a confirmed malaria diagnosis
- Standard course is six doses spread over three days, given at 0, 8, 24, 36, 48 and 60 hours
- This 40mg/240mg strength is generally dosed as two tablets per dose for patients weighing 35kg and above
- Always take each dose with milk, yogurt or a fatty meal since fat improves absorption of lumefantrine
- If vomiting occurs within one hour of a dose, repeat the full dose
- Complete the entire course even if symptoms improve early
Drug Interactions
- CYP3A4 Inhibitors: Ketoconazole and ritonavir can raise drug levels and increase side effect risk
- CYP3A4 Inducers: Rifampicin, carbamazepine, phenytoin and St John's Wort can reduce effectiveness
- QT Prolonging Drugs: Certain antiarrhythmics, antipsychotics, macrolide antibiotics and fluoroquinolones raise heart rhythm risk when combined
- Other Antimalarials: Avoid combining with mefloquine or halofantrine due to added QT risk
- Grapefruit Juice: May alter drug absorption, best avoided during treatment
Risks and warnings
- Heart Rhythm Risk: Can prolong the QT interval, avoid in patients with known heart rhythm problems or on other QT prolonging medicines
- Pregnancy: Avoid in the first trimester unless no safer alternative exists, use only under medical supervision later in pregnancy
- Liver or Kidney Disease: Use with caution and closer monitoring in significant hepatic or renal impairment
- Severe Malaria: Not suitable for cerebral or severe complicated malaria, which needs injectable treatment
- Elderly Patients: Use with caution and monitor for cardiac and electrolyte related side effects
- Breastfeeding: Discuss with your doctor since limited safety data exists during lactation
Arceva Tablet 40mg / 240mg Side Effects
- Headache and dizziness
- Nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain
- Loss of appetite
- Sleep disturbances
- Joint pain and muscle aches
- Weakness or fatigue
- Skin rash or itching
- Palpitations in rare cases
Storage Conditions
- Store below 30°C in a cool, dry place
- Keep the blister strip inside its original carton to protect from light and moisture
- Keep out of reach of children
- Do not use beyond the printed expiry date
