Tee Inj
α – β Arteether
Composition
Each ml contains
Arteether 75 mg
Description
Arteether is the ethyl ether of Artemisinin. This has both the alpha (α) and the beta (β) isomers and are present in the ratio of 70% alpha and 30% beta. The advantage being increased solubility in oil medium. The alpha isomer provides fast action and the beta isomer provides sustained long action.
Pharmacokinetics
Arteether once injected intramuscularly is slowly released into the systemic circulation, reaching peak serum concentrations in 3-12 hours. It is de-alkylated in the liver to its active form dihydroartemisinin. It has a serum half-life of over 20 hrs. It crosses the blood brain barrier to achieve high concentrations in the brain tissue. It is eliminated by hepatic metabolism. The elimination is much slower compared to other compounds.
Indications
Severe malaria including cerebral malaria and as a second line drug in chloroquine resistant malaria.
Contra-Indications
Arteether injection is contra-indicated in patients hypersensitive to artemisinin derivatives
Precautions
- Pregnancy: Adequate studies regarding safe use of artemisinin derivatives during pregnancy are not available. Artemisinin derivatives should not be used in pregnancy as primary drug for uncomplicated malaria cases but these can be used for treatment of severe or complicated P.falciparum malaria infection in patients of multiple drug resistance, if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to foetus
- Nursing Mother: It is not known whether Arteether is excreted in human milk, because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised while using Arteether
Adverse Effects
Treatment with Arteether appears to be generally well tolerated, although there have been reports of mild gastro-intestinal disturbance, dizziness, tinnitus, neutropenia, elevated liver enzyme values and ECG abnormalities including prolongation of the QT interval. Neurotoxicity is the common side effect associated with all artemisinin compounds in high doses. In multicentric trials of arteether in Indian patients suffering from P. falciparum malaria, no significant side effects were observed.
Dosage and Administration
Tee (α – β Arteether ) injection is for INTRAMUSCULAR USE.
Adult : 150 mg i.e. 1 ampoule of Tee(Arteether) once daily for 7 consecutive days.
Children : 3 mg/kg per day administered by intramuscular injection over a 7 day period.
The injection must be given under aseptic conditions, deep intramuscularly in upper-lateral quadrant of the buttock. No other drug should be mixed in the same syringe.
Storage
Store in a cool dry place, protected from light.
Presentation
Tee 2ml (150 mg in 2 ml in an oil base) Box of 3 ampoules of 2 ml each
Tee 1ml (75 mg in 21ml in an oil base) Box of 3 ampoules of 1 ml each
