Riamet (Artemether And Lumefantrine)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Riamet Used For?
Riamet is an antimalarial medication that contains two active ingredients working together to fight malaria infections.
Primary Uses
Riamet is used to treat sudden, uncomplicated malaria caused by the Plasmodium falciparum parasite. It is approved for adults, adolescents, and children weighing 35 kg or more, or over 12 years of age. Malaria is an infectious disease spread by infected Anopheles mosquitoes that inject parasites into your bloodstream when they bite.
How It Works
Riamet contains artemether and lumefantrine, which work together to kill the Plasmodium falciparum parasite that causes malaria. Common malaria symptoms include fever, chills, headache, and feeling sick.
Not for prevention: Do not use Riamet to prevent malaria or treat other types of malaria – it is only for treating uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria.
How to Take Riamet
Riamet must be taken exactly as prescribed by your doctor following a specific 6-dose schedule over 3 days.
Dosage Instructions
Take 6 doses over 3 days, with each dose consisting of 4 tablets (24 tablets total). Schedule: 1st dose – as soon as possible after diagnosis; 2nd dose – 8 hours after first; 3rd dose – 24 hours after first; 4th dose – 36 hours after first; 5th dose – 48 hours after first; 6th dose – 60 hours after first. Swallow tablets whole with water or milk. Take with food whenever possible to improve absorption. If you vomit within 1 hour of taking tablets, take another dose.
What If You Miss a Dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember, then continue with your prescribed schedule. If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next one as scheduled. Do not miss any doses as this is crucial for treatment success.
Important: Never take a double dose to make up for a missed dose. Complete the full 6-dose course even if you feel better.
Available Tablet Strengths
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- Numbness or tingling in hands or feet
- Headache
- Feeling sick or vomiting
- Dizziness
- Itching
- Tiredness
- Hives
- Indigestion
- Joint pain
- Sleep problems
- Muscle pain or weakness
- Back pain
- Rash
- Fever
- Stomach pain
- Diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
- Sore throat
- Cough
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Fever, weakness, abnormal paleness, dizziness, confusion
- Yellowing of skin and/or eyes, fever, chills, dark urine
- Severe headache, dizziness, vision problems
- Excessive bleeding or bruising
- Fast or irregular heartbeats
- Heart rhythm problems with dizziness, fainting, seizure
- Red/brown colored urine with fatigue and stomach pain
- Clumsiness and lack of coordination affecting balance, walking, or speech
- Muscle spasms, pulsing, tightness, and pain
Important Warnings
Riamet has several important warnings and should not be used by certain people or in specific situations.
Who Should Not Take Riamet
Do not use if you are allergic to artemether, lumefantrine, or any ingredients. Do not use for severe malaria, if you have heart disease or heart function problems, family history of heart rate problems or sudden death, or symptoms suggesting low potassium (muscle weakness, constipation, extreme tiredness) or low magnesium (weakness, cramps, tremors).
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have liver or kidney problems, heart problems, history of heart attack, or any other medical conditions. Your doctor may need to monitor your blood potassium levels or perform ECG tests during treatment.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Do not take Riamet if you are pregnant, think you are pregnant, or planning to become pregnant. Do not use during the first trimester. Use effective contraception during treatment and until your next period. If taking hormonal birth control, use additional contraception methods. Do not breastfeed during treatment – wait at least 4 weeks after your last dose before resuming breastfeeding.
Heart Problems: Riamet can affect heart rhythm. Tell your doctor immediately if you experience fast or irregular heartbeats, dizziness, fainting, or seizures.
Drug Interactions
Several medications can interfere with Riamet or be dangerous when taken together. Always tell your doctor about all medicines you’re taking.
Grapefruit interaction: Avoid grapefruit juice during treatment with Riamet tablets.
- Other antimalarial medicines (mefloquine, quinine, halofantrine)
- Anti-retroviral medicines or protease inhibitors for HIV/AIDS
- Heart rhythm medications (flecainide, metoprolol)
- Antidepressants (imipramine, amitriptyline, clomipramine)
- Rifampicin (antibiotic for leprosy/tuberculosis)
- Epilepsy medications (carbamazepine, phenytoin)
- St John’s wort
- Antifungal medicines (fluconazole, itraconazole)
- Certain antibiotics (macrolides, fluoroquinolones, imidazole)
- Stomach medications (cisapride)
- Non-sedating antihistamines (terfenadine, astemizole)
Alcohol & Driving
Riamet can affect your ability to drive safely and may interact with other substances.
Alcohol
No specific alcohol warnings mentioned in the source material. Consult your doctor about alcohol consumption during treatment.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Riamet may cause dizziness or unusual weakness in some people. Do not drive or operate machinery if you experience these symptoms. Be careful until you know how Riamet affects you.
Storage
Store Riamet tablets below 30°C in the original blister pack until ready to use. Keep in a cool, dry place away from moisture, heat, and sunlight. Do not store in the bathroom, near a sink, in the car, or on window sills. Keep out of reach of children.
Overdose Information
If you think you have taken too many Riamet tablets, seek urgent medical attention immediately. Call the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26), contact your doctor, or go to the nearest hospital emergency department, even if you feel fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Riamet should be taken as a complete 6-dose course over 3 days. You should start feeling better as the medication kills the malaria parasites, but it’s crucial to complete the entire course even if you feel better.
Yes, you should take Riamet with food whenever possible as this improves absorption of the medication. If you’re feeling too unwell to eat, still take the tablets, but try to eat normally as soon as you can tolerate food.
Do not stop taking Riamet suddenly or before completing the full 6-dose course. This could lead to treatment failure and the malaria infection may not be properly cleared from your body.
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember, then continue with your prescribed schedule. If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next one as scheduled. Never take a double dose.
No, do not take Riamet if you are pregnant, think you are pregnant, or planning to become pregnant. It should not be used during the first trimester and only in later pregnancy if clearly indicated by your doctor.
If you vomit within 1 hour of taking Riamet tablets, take a repeat dose. This ensures you get the full medication needed to treat the malaria infection.
No, Riamet should not be used as a preventive measure for malaria. It is only for treating uncomplicated malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum parasite, not for prevention or other types of malaria.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.