Artemether: Difference between revisions

Artemether causes relatively few side effects.<ref name=Kov2015/> An [[Heart arrhythmia|irregular heartbeat]] may rarely occur.<ref name=Kov2015/> While there is evidence that use during [[pregnancy]] may be harmful in animals, there is no evidence of concern in humans.<ref name=Kov2015/> The [[World Health Organization]] (WHO) therefore recommends its use during pregnancy.<ref name=Kov2015/> It is in the [[artemisinin]] class of medication.<ref name=Kov2015>{{cite journal|last1=Kovacs|first1=SD|last2=Rijken|first2=MJ|last3=Stergachis|first3=A|title=Treating severe malaria in pregnancy: a review of the evidence.|journal=Drug Safety|date=February 2015|volume=38|issue=2|pages=165–81|pmid=25556421|pmc=4328128|doi=10.1007/s40264-014-0261-9}}</ref>

Artemether has been studied since at least 1981 and been in medical use since 1987.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Rao|first1=Yi|last2=Zhang|first2=Daqing|last3=Li|first3=Runhong|title=Tu Youyou and the Discovery of Artemisinin: 2015 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine|date=2016|publisher=World Scientific|isbn=9789813109919|page=162|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nmZtDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA162|language=en|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910151644/https://books.google.com/books?id=nmZtDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA162|archivedate=2017-09-10}}</ref> It is on the [[WHO Model List of Essential Medicines|World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines]], the most effectivesafest and safemost effective medicines needed in a [[health system]].<ref name=WHO19th"WHO21st">{{cite webbook | vauthors = ((World Health Organization)) | title =WHO ModelWorld ListHealth Organization model list of Essentialessential Medicinesmedicines: (19th21st list 2019 List)|url year =http://www.who.int/medicines/publications/essentialmedicines/EML_2015_FINAL_amended_NOV2015.pdf?ua 2019 | hdl =1 10665/325771 |work author-link = World Health Organization |accessdate publisher =8 DecemberWorld Health Organization 2016|date location =April 2015Geneva |url-status id =live|archiveurl=https: WHO/MVP/web.archive.orgEMP/webIAU/20161213052708/http://www2019.who06.int/medicines/publications/essentialmedicines/EML_2015_FINAL_amended_NOV2015 License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.pdf?ua=10 IGO |archivedate=13 Decemberhdl-access=free 2016}}</ref> The wholesale cost in the [[developing world]] is between US$0.38 and US$16.47 per vial.<ref>{{cite web|title=Artemether|url=http://mshpriceguide.org/en/single-drug-information/?DMFId=65&searchYear=2014|website=International Drug Price Indicator Guide|accessdate=1 January 2016}}</ref> The combination form costs between US$100 and US$200 for a course of treatment in the United States.<ref name=Ric2015>{{cite book|last1=Hamilton|first1=Richart|title=Tarascon Pocket Pharmacopoeia 2015 Deluxe Lab-Coat Edition|date=2015|publisher=Jones & Bartlett Learning|isbn=9781284057560|page=45}}</ref>