Meaning Of QS In Lokmal, Forte In Coartem And DS In Lonart

Many people come to the pharmacy to buy antimalarial drugs. However, some have realised that the artemether and lumefantrine combination for adults do come in two different variants. One with 20mg/120mg artemether/lumefantrine combination with 24 tablets and another with 80mg/480mg artemether/lumefantrine combination with six tablets. These two variants of the same brand have different prices with the six tablet variants costing more.

And some have noticed that that six tablet variant always comes with an acronym different from the name of the other product. What are these acronyms? What does it say about the drug? Or is it just another marketing ploy by the manufactures of the product? These and many more this post will cover.

Read Also: Meaning of medical abbreviation

Acronyms in drug packs are not for designs or marketing strategies. They carry deep meaning that can influence your choices. They use these to buttress a point. Knowing what they mean may be fun and also help in explaining it to others.

There are three acronyms found in adult packs of 80/480mg artemether and lumefantrine combinations. They are;

1. QS

2. DS

3. Forte

All of them mean the same thing. But let us look at them individually.

QS In Lokmal

Acronym in antimalarial like QS, DS and forte

Quantum satis (abbreviation q.s. or Q.S.) is a Latin term meaning the amount which is enough. It has its origins as a quantity specification in medicine and pharmacology, where a similar term quantum sufficit ("as much as is sufficient") has been used (abbreviated Q.S.).

The specification of quantum satis for an ingredient essentially means "Add as much of this ingredient as is needed to achieve the desired result, but not more."

This acronym is used in products with 80mg/480mg artemether/lumefantrine combination with six in a pack. It is not used in a product with 24 tablets or capsules of 20mg/120mg artemether/lumefantrine combination. That means that four of the 20mg artemether and 120mg lumefantrine was combined for one tablet or capsule. This results in an 80/480mg artemether/lumefantrine combo.

DS In Lonart

This is an English language abbreviation which means 'double strength'. It means that four of the 20mg/120mg artemether/lumefantrine tablets or capsules are combined into one. An example is lonart.

Forte in Coartem

Forte is another Latin word that means 'strong'. Strong in what sense? It means that the drug is fortified or given extra strength. This means that the drug ingredients have been doubled. And in antimalarial, it means four 20mg/120mg artemether/lumefantrine is combined into one tablet or capsule. Example of a drug this acronym is found is Coartem forte.

Read Also: Dosage of artemether and lumefantrine combination

However, when the word forte appears in other drugs, it may mean combining two or three or four or more strengths together. It can also mean that another ingredient(s) was added to the original drug.