See the DrugPatentWatch profile for Coartem
What dose of Coartem (artemether/lumefantrine) is used for adults?
Coartem tablets come in different strengths (commonly 20 mg artemether / 120 mg lumefantrine per tablet). For adults, dosing is weight-based rather than a single fixed “adult dose.”
A typical adult regimen for malaria treatment is:
- 4 tablets per dose if the patient weighs 35–<45 kg
- 6 tablets per dose if the patient weighs ≥45 kg
These doses are taken at specified times over 3 days (doses are repeated after 0, 8, 24, 36, and 48 hours as commonly used for Coartem regimens). Exact tablet strength and weight bands vary by the product presentation and country label, so the number of tablets per dose should be confirmed against the package insert you have.
If you tell me the tablet strength printed on your box (e.g., “80/480 mg” or “20/120 mg per tablet”) and the patient’s weight, I can map it to the correct tablet count and schedule.
How is the “80/480” strength supposed to be taken (and what does it mean)?
Some markets sell “80/480” presentation(s), which correspond to the fixed combination strength per unit (artemether 80 mg + lumefantrine 480 mg). For these presentations, the treatment still follows weight-based dosing and the same multi-dose timing schedule, but the number of units per dose will differ from the lower-strength tablets.
To give the exact “80/480” tablet count per dose, I need:
- the patient’s weight, and
- whether your product label says to take 1 unit per dose, 2 units per dose, or another instruction for that weight band.
How much does Coartem cost for adults (80/480 dosage)?
Price depends heavily on:
- your country (and pharmacy vs. online),
- whether it is the specific “80/480” presentation or a different tablet strength,
- the number of doses/units per pack (treatment course size),
- public-sector vs. private-sector pricing and insurance/coverage.
Because no location or retailer is provided, I can’t give a reliable single price.
If you share your country (and ideally a link or the pharmacy name), I can help you estimate what the adult course typically costs and how to compare prices by “cost per treatment course” rather than per tablet.
What could make dosing different in adults?
Adult dosing can change if there’s:
- severe/complicated malaria (often needs IV treatment first rather than oral Coartem),
- vomiting or inability to keep tablets down,
- pregnancy (especially timing in the first trimester may affect regimen choice in some guidelines),
- drug interactions or specific patient conditions.
Quick questions to get the exact adult dosage and a usable price estimate
Reply with:
1) Your country (for pricing)
2) Patient weight (kg)
3) Confirm the tablet/unit strength on the pack (does it say “80/480”? and is it 1 tablet = 80/480 mg?)
4) The pack size (how many tablets/units per box), if shown
Then I can tell you the exact number of units per dose and the likely total course cost in your market.