1 May 2026Potentially dangerous, obsolete, or ineffective
Artesunate = AS oral
Oral artesunate guidance for malaria treatment only when used in co-formulated combinations with another antimalarial.
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.
Use restrictions
Oral artesunate must always be administered in combination with another antimalarial in co-formulated tablets: artesunate/amodiaquine or artesunate/mefloquine.
Therapeutic action
Antimalarial.
Indications
- Treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria, in combination with another antimalarial.
- Treatment of uncomplicated malaria due to other Plasmodium species, in combination with another antimalarial, when chloroquine cannot be used.
- Completion treatment following parenteral therapy for severe malaria, in combination with another antimalarial.
Forms and strengths
50 mg tablet.
Dosage and duration
Child and adult: 4 mg/kg once daily for 3 days in combination with another antimalarial.
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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