Camosunate Dose, Use, Composition, Side Effect

Camosunate is an anti-malaria drug that contains artesunate and amodiaquine as its active pharmaceutical ingredient. Its dosage form is tablet and powder form.

Camosunate is made by Front Pharmaceutical PLC, China. It is marketed in Nigeria by Geneith Pharm. LTD., Lagos State.

Camosunate

Composition Of Camosunate

Camosunate adult: 1 blister of 12 tablets contains 6 white Artesunate tablets and 6 yellow Amodiaquine tablets. Each white tablet contains artesunate 100 mg. Each yellow tablet contains Amodiaquine 300 mg.

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Camosunate junior (7-13): 1 blister of 6 tablets contains 3 white Artesunate tablets and 3 yellow Amodiaquine tablets. Each white tablet contains artesunate 100 mg. Each yellow tablet contains Amodiaquine 300 mg.

Camosunate children 1-6 (Pleasantly Flavored): One box of 6 sachets contains 3 white labeled Artesunate sachets and 3 black labeled Amodiaquine sachets. Each link sachet contains artesunate 150 mg and Amodiaquine 50 mg.

Camosunate children below 1 (Pleasantly Flavored): One box of 6 sachets contains 3 white labeled Artesunate sachets and 3 black labeled Amodiaquine sachets. Each link sachet contains artesunate 75 mg and Amodiaquine 25 mg.

Clinical Pharmacology Of Camosunate

Camosunate is a synergistic combination of artemisinin derivative (artesunate) and an antimalarial (amodiaquine). Camosunate is very potent against the asexual forms of plasmodium, schizonts and gametocytes. The schizonticidal action of camosunate insures a rapid clearance of parasitaemia, ensuring a rapid clinical recovery, and its gametocidal action prevents the infestation.

The half life of artesunate is short whereas amodiaquine is long. The absorption of camosunate after oral administration is rapid and complete; it is extensively distributed in all tissues.

Therapeutic Indications And Use Of Camosunate

Camosunate is indicated for the treatment of acute uncomplicated malaria attacks, including multi drug resistant strains of P. falciparum.

Contraindications

Linking to Amodiaquine: Camosunate must not be used in the following cases namely: hypersensitivity to one of the constituents, history of fever disease or blood impairment during anterior treatment with amodiaquine and retinopathy (in the event of frequent treatment). Do not use this medicine during the pregnancy and the lactation.

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Linking to Artesunate: For now no recorded contraindication is reported. However, this drug must not be used in case of hypersensitivity to one of the constituents.

Interactions

There have been no reports of negative drug interactions to date. For the combination with Amodiaquine, there was a significant improvement of the cure rates at different stages of the clinical tests.

Warnings And Precautions

• Use in Pregnancy: Use of the product is not recommended during the organogenesis period except if in the doctor's opinion, the benefits outweigh the risks as seen with cerebral malaria. Administration of the drug during the first trimester must be avoided.

-Breast-feeding: Artesunate is not known to cross into maternal milk. Do not exceed the recommended dose without seeking further medical advice.

Adverse Reactions And Side Effects Of Camosunate

Undesirable effects of Artesunate are generally rammed at the therapeutic recommended dose. In rare cases, however, slight changes to hematology values have been seen, including a reduction in the number of reticulocytes as well as a slight increase in transaminase. These signs, however, do not generally give rise to any noticeable clinical manifestations. In rare cases, a slight but transient reduction in sinus heart has been observed.

Abdominal cramps and mild diarrhea have been reported at elevated doses. Since amodiaquine may concentrate in the liver, the drug should be used with caution in patients with hepatic diseases or alcoholism, and patients receiving hepatotoxic drugs. After the intake of Amodiaquine neurological effects such as lethargy and drowsiness have been reported at therapeutic doses. Also patients can experience involuntary movements.

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Patients with hypersensitivity to Amodiaquine can develop hepatitis. Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea have also been reported. In a number of cases it has been seen that Amodiaquine causes agranulocytosis and other blood dyscrasias.

Symptoms Of Overdose

You should stop the treatment and consult a Pharmacist or a medical Doctor immediately in case of headache, dizziness, visual disturbances, or convulsions.

These symptoms usually indicate an overdose.

Dosage And Administration Of Camosunate

Dose Camosunate Under one year: Each pediatric sachet containing Artesunate 25 mg and Amodiaquine base 75 mg should be dissolved in 10 ml clean water and taken daily for 3 days.

Dose Camosunate 1-6 years: Each children sachet containing Artesunate 50 mg and Amodiaquine base 150 mg should be dissolved in 10 ml clean water and taken daily for 3 days

Dose Camosunate 7-13 years: One tablet of each white tablet (Artesunate 100 mg) and one tablet of each yellow tablet (Amodiaquine hydrochloride equivalent to Amodiaquine base 300 mg) daily for 3 days

Camosunate 14 years and above: One tablet of each white tablet (Artesunate 100 mg) and One tablet of each yellow tablet (Amodiaquine hydrochloride equivalent to Amodiaquine base 300 mg) in the morning and evening daily for 3 days.