Correct Dosing Frequency Of Artemether/Lumefantrine

Artemether/lumefantrine is one of the most effective and cheap antimalarial available Nationwide. The dosage is based on weight and or age of the user. However, the frequency is the same.

I have come to realize that the frequency is a little bit complicated. Many prescribers give different dosage frequency. This could be attributed to the fact that many of the manufacturer drug information leaflet gives a rather complicated dosage frequency.

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From observation, many prescribers advice the drugs to be taken morning and night. Another will say take one now and the second dose in eight hours time. Subsequent dose should be taken at twelve hours time from the second dose and other doses follow the same twelve hours interval. What that means is that if the first dose is 6:00 AM, the next dose will be by 2:00 PM. The third dose will be by 2:00 AM. Others will be by 2:00 PM.

The last group will say take one now and the second dose eight hours time. The next dose should be taken by sixteen hours time. Others is twelve hours interval.

This complication is really affecting patients who hear different variations from different prescribers and dispensers. The correct prescription was explain in a research work.

The first and second dose is to be taken at eight hours interval. This is done to increase the concentration of the drug in the body. This helps to fight the infection when it wants to fight back the drug. The third dose is given at 24 hours from the first dose or 16 hours from the second dose. Then subsequent dose is 12 hours interval. In some drug information leaflet, the hours is written based on the first dose. For example, first and second dose is eight hours interval. Third dose is 24 hours interval from first dose. Forth dose is 36 hours from the first dose. Fifth and sixth dose is 48 and 60 hours from the first dose respectively. The image below clearly explain this.

Source: research gate
Artemether lumefantrine dosage frequency

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Here is a quick guide. If the first dose was given by 6:00 AM, the second dose should be given by 2:00 PM. The third dose ought to be given by 6:00 AM. The other doses will be 6:00 PM and 6:00 AM for the next two days.

Here is a graphic illustration of it

	Day one		Day two		Day three
	1st dose	2nd dose	3rd dose	4th dose	5th dose	6th dose
Time	6:00 AM	2:00 PM	6:00 AM	6:00 PM	6:00 AM	6:00 PM

Alternatively we can see it this way

	Day one		Day two		Day three
	1st dose	2nd dose	3rd dose	4th dose	5th dose	6th dose
Time	0 hour	8 hours	16 hours	12 hours	12 hours	12 hours

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