Falcigo

Falcigo (Artesunate) is a World Health Organization (WHO) approved treatment for Malaria. Artesenute has been shown to be more effective the quinine in preventing death from severe cases of malaria. It is offered in a 60mg vial for injection or oral administration.

Artesunate by injection is recommended by the World Health Organization as the first line treatment in cases of severe malaria. Less severe cases of malaria may be able to be treated by taking Artesunate orally, but this should be only on your doctors advice. If taken orally it should be taken along with another anti-malarial agent.

The powder needs to be reconstituted with 5% sodium bicarbonate and diluted in an equal volume of physiological saline or 5% (w/v) glucose. This should be performed immediately before injection and any remaining powder should be discarded.

If taken orally, the recommended dosage is 5mg/kg for the first day, followed by 2.5mg/kg on the second and third days along with another antimalarial.

If injected intramuscularly or intervenously, the recommended dosage is a loading dose of 2mg/kg followed by a second dose of 1mg/kg in one hour and a third dose of 1mg/kg after 24 hours.

Falcigo (Artesunate) is generally well-tolerated. Sometimes fever can occur. If high doses are given cardiotoxicity can occur.

It has yet to be established if Falcigo (Artesunate) is safe during the first trimester of pregnancy, however it is recommended as first-line therapy for the second and third trimesters.