1 May 2026Oral drugs
Artesunate/Amodiaquine = AS/AQ oral
Artesunate/amodiaquine guidance for uncomplicated malaria and completion treatment after severe malaria, with once-daily dosing for 3 days.
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
- Treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria.
- Treatment of uncomplicated malaria due to other Plasmodium species, when chloroquine cannot be used.
- Completion treatment following parenteral therapy for severe malaria.
Forms and strengths
Co-formulated tablets of artesunate and amodiaquine in blister packs for a complete treatment for one individual.
There are 4 different blister packs corresponding to 4 different categories of weight.
- 25 mg artesunate/67.5 mg amodiaquine base tablet, blister pack of 3 tablets.
- 50 mg artesunate/135 mg amodiaquine base tablet, blister pack of 3 tablets.
- 100 mg artesunate/270 mg amodiaquine base tablet, blister pack of 3 tablets.
- 100 mg artesunate/270 mg amodiaquine base tablet, blister pack of 6 tablets.
Dose and duration
Tablets are to be taken once daily for 3 days.
| Weight | Tablets | D1 | D2 | D3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.5 to < 9 kg | 25 mg AS/67.5 mg AQ base | 1 tab | 1 tab | 1 tab |
| 9 to < 18 kg | 50 mg AS/135 mg AQ base | 1 tab | 1 tab | 1 tab |
| 18 to < 36 kg | 100 mg AS/270 mg AQ base blister pack of 3 tab | 1 tab | 1 tab | 1 tab |
| ≥ 36 kg | 100 mg AS/270 mg AQ base blister pack of 6 tab | 2 tab | 2 tab | 2 tab |
Weight-based dosing
- 4.5 to < 9 kg: 25 mg AS/67.5 mg AQ base, 1 tablet on D1, D2, and D3.
- 9 to < 18 kg: 50 mg AS/135 mg AQ base, 1 tablet on D1, D2, and D3.
- 18 to < 36 kg: 100 mg AS/270 mg AQ base, blister pack of 3 tablets, 1 tablet on D1, D2, and D3.
- >= 36 kg: 100 mg AS/270 mg AQ base, blister pack of 6 tablets, 2 tablets on D1, D2, and D3.
Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions
- Do not administer in the event of previous severe adverse reaction to treatment with amodiaquine, such as hypersensitivity reaction, hepatitis, leucopenia, or agranulocytosis.
- Do not administer to patients taking efavirenz.
- Avoid combination with drugs that prolong the QT interval, including amiodarone, other antimalarials, antipsychotics, fluconazole, fluoroquinolones, hydroxyzine, macrolides, and ondansetron.
- May cause gastrointestinal disturbances, pruritus, somnolence or insomnia, and cough.
- If the patient vomits within 30 minutes after administration, re-administer the full dose.
- If the patient vomits between 30 minutes and 1 hour after administration, re-administer half of the dose.
- 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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