Larither Injection 1ml

Introduction About LARITHER INJECTION

LARITHER INJECTION contains Artemether which belongs to the group of medicines
called Antimalarials. It is indicated for the management of severe malaria
including cerebral malaria due to Plasmodium falciparum (a particular type of
malaria parasite) when other medicines are not effective.

Malaria is a serious and sometimes fatal disease caused by a parasite that
commonly infects a certain type of mosquito which feeds on humans. People who
get malaria are typically very sick with high fevers, shaking chills, headache,
muscle pain and flu-like illness.

Cerebral malaria is the most severe neurological complication of infection with
Plasmodium falciparum malaria. It is a clinical syndrome characterized by coma
and asexual forms of the parasite on peripheral blood smears.

Before receiving LARITHER INJECTION inform your doctor if you have liver, heart,
kidney problems. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should consult their doctor
before receiving this medicine.

The most common side effects of LARITHER INJECTION are injection site pain,
headache, dizziness, muscle pain, joint pain, stomach pain, nausea, and
vomiting. It may be monitored with blood tests once a week for 4 weeks to detect
the presence of malarial parasites.

Uses Of LARITHER INJECTION

• Used to manage severe malaria including cerebral malaria due to Plasmodium falciparum (a particular type of malaria parasite) when other medicines are not effective

How LARITHER INJECTION Works

LARITHER INJECTION is an antiparasitic medication which works by producing
harmful chemicals (free radicals) within the malarial parasite, thereby works
against them.

How to use LARITHER INJECTION

LARITHER INJECTION will be administered by a doctor or nurse intramuscularly
(into a muscle). Your doctor will administer the correct dose depending upon the
age, body weight and disease condition.

Side Effects Of LARITHER INJECTION

Common

• injection site pain
• decrease in blood cells count
• bradycardia (slow heart rate)
• first degree atrio-ventricular block (mild electrical abnormality of the heart)
• cough
• diarrhoea
• dizziness
• headache
• joint and muscle pain
• stiffness
• loss of appetite
• nausea, vomiting
• stomach pain
• tiredness
• trouble in sleeping
• weakness
• convulsion

Rare

• deafness
• liver inflammation (elevations in liver transaminases AST and ALT)

How To Manage Side Effects

Diarrhoea:

Drink lots of fluids, such as water or fruit juices to keep yourself hydrated.
Avoid taking any medicine on your own for managing diarrheoa. Consult your
doctor if the symptom did not improve.

Dizziness:

Try to rest and relax. Get enough sleep. Avoid driving or operating any tools or
machines while you are feeling dizzy. Do not consume too much of alcohol, as it
can aggravate your dizziness. Consult your doctor if the symptom did not
improve.

Headache:

Rest and relax. Drink plenty of fluids such as water and electrolytes. Apply a
pain-relieving balm on the head if necessary. Do not consume alcohol. Contact
your doctor if the symptom did not improve.

Nausea and Vomiting:

Try to take this medicine with or just after a meal or a snack. Stick to simple
meals. Avoid eating rich or spicy food.

Stomach pain:

Rest and relax. Eat and drink slowly or try to have smaller and frequent meals.
Keep a heat pad on your stomach. Do not self-manage on your own and consult your
doctor if the symptom did not improve on its own.

Warning & Precautions

!### Pregnancy

LARITHER INJECTION is not recommended for use in pregnant women (especially
first 3 months of pregnancy). Consult your doctor before receiving this
medicine.

!### Breastfeeding

There are no available data suggest this LARITHER INJECTION will affect nursing
mother. Consult your doctor before receiving this medicine.

!### Driving and Using Machines

LARITHER INJECTION may cause dizziness, do not drive a car or operate machines
while receiving this medicine.

!### Kidney

LARITHER INJECTION should be used with caution in patients suffering from kidney
disease. Consult your doctor before receiving this medicine.

!### Liver

LARITHER INJECTION should be used with caution in patients suffering from liver
disease. Consult your doctor before receiving this medicine.

!### Allergy

Do not receive this medicine if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to Artemether
or to any of the other ingredients of this medicine.

!### Heart Disease

LARITHER INJECTION should be used with caution in patients suffering from heart
disease. Consult your doctor before receiving this medicine.

Others

Before receiving LARITHER INJECTION, inform your doctor if you have:

• salt imbalance in the blood especially low concentrations of potassium in the blood (hypokalaemia)
• have infection
• have mental illness
• have HIV infection

Use in pediatrics:

LARITHER INJECTION should be used with caution in children and adolescents. Your
doctor will administer the right dose depends on your child’s age, body weight
and disease condition. Consult your doctor before receiving this medicine.

Use in geriatrics:

LARITHER INJECTION should be used with caution in elderly patients. Consult your
doctor before receiving this medicine.

Interactions

A. Drug-Drug interactions:

Before receiving LARITHER INJECTION inform your physician if you are taking any
of the following medicine:

• medicine used to lower blood potassium levels
• other medicines to manage malaria
• medicines used for your heart
• antipsychotic medicines (used for management of abnormal condition of the mind)
• antidepressants (used for mood disorders)
• antibiotics (used to manage infections)
• antihistamines (used to manage allergies)
• cisapride (used for improving gastric mobility)

B. Drug - Food interaction:

LARITHER INJECTION may react with peanut or soya or arachis oil (peanut oil).

Overdosage:

LARITHER INJECTION will be administered to you only by a doctor or nurse in a
hospital, and so it is unlikely to receive an overdose. If you or anyone else
accidentally receives too much of this medicine, consult your doctor immediately
or visit the nearby hospital.

Synopsis

Drug	:	Artemether
Pharmacological Category	:	Antimalarials
Therapeutic Indication	:	Malaria
Dosage Forms	:	Tablet, Capsule, Injection, Liquid

More Information

• Keep out of reach of children
• Store at room temperature

FAQs About LARITHER INJECTION

Is LARITHER INJECTION effective?

Yes, it is effective if used in the dose and duration advised by your doctor.
Follow your doctor's instructions carefully and let your doctor know if any of
the side effects bother you.

Can I receive LARITHER INJECTION if I havekidney disease?

LARITHER INJECTION should be used with caution in patients suffering from kidney
disease. Consult your doctor before receiving this medicine.

Can LARITHER INJECTION cause headache?

Yes, this medicine may cause headache in some individuals. Rest and relax. Drink
plenty of fluids such as water and electrolytes. Apply a pain-relieving balm on
the head if necessary. Do not consume alcohol. Contact your doctor if the
symptom did not improve.

Can I receive LARITHER INJECTION if I haveheart disease?

LARITHER INJECTION should be used with caution in patients suffering from heart
disease. Consult your doctor before receiving this medicine.

Useful Diagnostic Tests

• Malarial Falciparum & Vivax Antigen
• Malarial Parasite Identification
• Peripheral Smear Examination
• Peripheral Smear for Malaria