1 May 2026Potentially dangerous, obsolete, or ineffective
Artemether injectable
Artemether injectable guidance for severe malaria when artesunate is unavailable, with oily IM dosing and weight-band examples.
Prescription under medical supervision
This guide page is for structured reference only and does not replace a clinician, pharmacist, or emergency review. Dose choice, route choice, interactions, and safety decisions still need professional judgment.
Therapeutic action
Antimalarial.
Indications
- Alternative to injectable artesunate, when it is not available, in the treatment of severe malaria.
- Initial treatment of uncomplicated malaria, when persistent vomiting precludes oral therapy.
Forms and strengths, route of administration
80 mg in 1 ml ampoule (80 mg/ml), oily solution for IM injection.
When the dose required is less than 1 ml, use a 1 ml syringe graduated in 0.01 ml.
Dosage and duration
Child and adult: 3.2 mg/kg by IM injection on the first day followed by 1.6 mg/kg once daily.
| Weight | 80 mg ampoule | |
|---|---|---|
| Loading dose | Maintenance dose | |
| 3-4 kg | 0.2 ml | 0.1 ml |
| 5-6 kg | 0.3 ml | 0.15 ml |
| 7-9 kg | 0.4 ml | 0.2 ml |
| 10-14 kg | 0.6 ml | 0.3 ml |
| 15-19 kg | 0.8 ml | 0.4 ml |
| 20-29 kg | 1.2 ml | 0.6 ml |
| 30-39 kg | 1.6 ml | 0.8 ml |
| 40-49 kg | 2 ml | 1 ml |
| 50-59 kg | 2.5 ml | 1.2 ml |
80 mg ampoule examples
- 3 to 4 kg: loading dose 0.2 ml, maintenance dose 0.1 ml.
- 5 to 6 kg: loading dose 0.3 ml, maintenance dose 0.15 ml.
- 7 to 9 kg: loading dose 0.4 ml, maintenance dose 0.2 ml.
- 10 to 14 kg: loading dose 0.6 ml, maintenance dose 0.3 ml.
- 15 to 19 kg: loading dose 0.8 ml, maintenance dose 0.4 ml.
- 20 to 29 kg: loading dose 1.2 ml, maintenance dose 0.6 ml.
- 30 to 39 kg: loading dose 1.6 ml, maintenance dose 0.8 ml.
- 40 to 49 kg: loading dose 2 ml, maintenance dose 1 ml.
- 50 to 59 kg: loading dose 2.5 ml, maintenance dose 1.2 ml.
Treatment duration
- Treat parenterally for at least 24 hours (2 doses), then, if the patient can tolerate the oral route, change to a complete 3-day course of an artemisinin-based combination.
- If not, continue parenteral treatment once daily until the patient can change to oral route, without exceeding 7 days of parenteral treatment.
Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions
- May cause gastrointestinal disturbances and dizziness.
- Pregnancy: no contra-indication.
- Breast-feeding: no contra-indication.
Source
MSF Essential drugs practical guidelines (January 2026)
This page reproduces the structured reference information for this batch while leaving out the Storage and Remarks sections.
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