1 May 2026Injectable drugsSource update: June 2025
Artesunate (with arginine and sodium bicarbonate solvent) injectable
One-step artesunate injectable guidance for severe malaria, using the arginine and sodium bicarbonate solvent formulation.
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 severe malaria.
- Initial treatment of uncomplicated malaria, when persistent vomiting precludes oral therapy.
Forms and strengths, route of administration
- Powder for injection (artesunate), 60 mg vial, plus solvent: 2% arginine + 0.84% sodium bicarbonate, 3 ml ampoule.
- Add the entire ampoule of solvent into the vial to obtain 3 ml of solution containing 20 mg/ml.
- Shake gently until the powder is dissolved and use when the solution is clear.
- Administer by slow IV or slow IM injection. Never administer by IV infusion.
Dose and duration
One dose on admission, then 12 hours after admission, then 24 hours after admission, then once daily.
Administer for at least 24 hours, minimum 3 doses, then change to a full 3-day course of an ACT when oral therapy becomes possible.
- Child under 6 kg: seek specialist advice.
- Child 6 kg to under 20 kg: 3 mg/kg per dose.
- Child 20 kg and over and adult: 2.4 mg/kg per dose.
- If oral treatment is still not possible, continue one daily parenteral dose until the patient can tolerate the oral route, not exceeding 7 days.
| Artesunate (arginine/NaHCO solvent) 20 mg/ml solution for IV or IM 3 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | Dose per injection (mg) | Dose per injection (ml) | Weight | Dose per injection (mg) | Dose per injection (ml) |
| Child 6 to < 20 kg | |||||
| 6 to < 7 kg | 20 mg | 1 ml | 14 to < 17 kg | 50 mg | 3 ml |
| 7 to < 11 kg | 30 mg | 2 ml | 17 to < 20 kg | 60 mg | 3 ml |
| 11 to < 14 kg | 40 mg | 2 ml | ─ | ─ | ─ |
| Child ≥ 20 kg and adult | |||||
| 20 to < 26 kg | 60 mg | 3 ml | 55 to < 59 kg | 140 mg | 7 ml |
| (a) 26 to < 30 kg | 70 mg | 4 ml | 59 to < 63 kg | 150 mg | 8 ml |
| 30 to < 34 kg | 80 mg | 4 ml | 63 to < 67 kg | 160 mg | 8 ml |
| 34 to < 38 kg | 90 mg | 5 ml | 67 to < 71 kg | 170 mg | 9 ml |
| 38 to < 42 kg | 100 mg | 5 ml | 71 to < 76 kg | 180 mg | 9 ml |
| 42 to < 46 kg | 110 mg | 6 ml | (a) 76 to < 80 kg | 190 mg | 10 ml |
| 46 to < 51 kg | 120 mg | 6 ml | 80 to < 84 kg | 200 mg | 10 ml |
| (a) 51 to < 55 kg | 130 mg | 7 ml | 84 to < 88 kg | 210 mg | 11 ml |
Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions
- Once reconstituted, the solution must be used immediately.
- May cause gastrointestinal disturbances, dizziness, headache, fever, muscle and joint pain, pruritus, and rarely rash or delayed haemolytic anaemia.
- Pregnancy and breast-feeding: no contra-indication.
- The solution should be clear; do not use if cloudy or if a precipitate is present.
- The 1-step and 2-step artesunate 60 mg formulations are bioequivalent and can be used interchangeably during the course of treatment, but use only the solvent or diluent provided by the manufacturer for each formulation.
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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