ARUNATE AQ 50/153MG TABLETS

Indications

• Malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Lupus erythematosus

Mechanism of action

The exact mechanism of action of amodiaquine is not completely understood. It is believed to inhibit heme polymerase activity, leading to an accumulation of free heme, which is toxic to malarial parasites. Amodiaquine binds to free heme, preventing its conversion to a less toxic form, and this drug-heme complex disrupts membrane function within the parasite. Additionally, it may interfere with protein synthesis by binding to nucleoproteins and intercalating into double-stranded DNA, inhibiting DNA and RNA polymerase. Furthermore, it is known to concentrate in the digestive vacuoles of the parasites, increasing vacuolar pH and impairing the parasite's ability to metabolize hemoglobin.

Pharmacodynamics

Amodiaquine is effective against malaria and exhibits anti-inflammatory properties. It can depress cardiac muscle function, impair conduction, and produce vasodilation, which may lead to hypotension. Other side effects include respiratory depression, diplopia, dizziness, and nausea. While its effectiveness is comparable to that of chloroquine, the development of resistance to amodiaquine has been documented. The drug's adverse effects and potential for toxicity necessitate monitoring during treatment.

Pharmacokinetics

Amodiaquine is well absorbed after oral administration. It undergoes hepatic metabolism, with its active metabolite contributing to its antimalarial effects. The pharmacokinetics can be influenced by factors such as hepatic function and concurrent medications. The elimination half-life of amodiaquine may vary, and it is important to consider individual patient factors when determining dosing regimens.

Contra-indications

• Hypersensitivity to amodiaquine or any of its components
• Severe liver impairment
• History of retinopathy related to 4-aminoquinoline derivatives
• Severe hematological disorders, including agranulocytosis and aplastic anemia

Adverse effects

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Dizziness
• Diplopia
• Hypotension
• Cardiac arrhythmias
• Hepatotoxicity
• Skin rashes
• Agranulocytosis

Interactions

• May enhance effects of anticoagulants
• Concomitant use with other antimalarials may increase risk of toxicity
• Caution with drugs that can cause hepatotoxicity
• May affect the metabolism of drugs that are substrates for CYP450 enzymes

Precautions

• Monitor liver function during treatment
• Use with caution in patients with a history of cardiovascular disease
• Assess for signs of hematological disorders
• Consider potential for cross-resistance with other 4-aminoquinoline derivatives

Pregnancy

Amodiaquine should be used in pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus. It is advised to refer to local guidelines.

Breast-feeding

Amodiaquine is excreted in breast milk. Caution is advised when administering to breastfeeding mothers.

Storage

Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Keep out of reach of children.

Formulations

• Tablets
• Oral suspension

Indications

• Severe malaria caused by _Plasmodium falciparum_
• Uncomplicated malaria in combination with other antimalarial agents

Dosage

Adults: For adults, the typical dosing regimen is an initial dose of 2.4 mg/kg intravenously, followed by 1.2 mg/kg at 12 and 24 hours, with subsequent doses depending on clinical response

Mechanism of action

Artesunate is metabolized to dihydroartemisinin (DHA), which reacts with heme, generating free radicals that inhibit protein and nucleic acid synthesis in _Plasmodium_ parasites during all erythrocytic stages. This interaction with free radicals can lead to the alkylation of essential parasitic proteins, disrupting their normal function. Two primary theories explain its action: one suggests that artemisinins are activated by interaction with ferrous iron or reduced heme, producing reactive radicals that alkylate biomolecules; the other posits that the intact artemisinin binds to vital proteins in the parasite, leading to the formation of reactive oxygen species.

Pharmacodynamics

As an artemisinin derivative, artesunate is metabolized to dihydroartemisinin, which generates free radicals that inhibit the function of _Plasmodium_ parasites. It has a short duration of action due to its short half-life, and while it possesses a moderate therapeutic index, patients should be informed about potential post-treatment hemolytic anemia and hypersensitivity reactions.

Pharmacokinetics

Artesunate is rapidly absorbed and converted to DHA, which has a short half-life. The pharmacokinetics of artesunate can be influenced by factors such as the presence of food and other medications. It is primarily metabolized in the liver and excreted in urine, with a rapid onset of action that makes it suitable for emergency treatment of severe malaria.

Adverse effects

• Hypersensitivity reactions
• Hemolytic anemia
• Gastrointestinal disturbances
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Fatigue

Precautions

• Caution in patients with a history of hypersensitivity to artemisinin derivatives
• Monitor for signs of hemolytic anemia
• Use with caution in patients with liver impairment

Pregnancy

Artesunate is classified as category C. The risks versus benefits should be assessed before use in pregnant women.

Breast-feeding

It is not known if artesunate is excreted in human milk. Caution is advised when administering to breastfeeding women.

Storage

Store at room temperature (15-30 degrees Celsius) in a tightly closed container, protected from light and moisture.

Formulations

• Injectable solution
• Oral tablets

Mechanism of action

The mechanism of plasmodicidal action of amodiaquine is not completely certain. Like other quinoline derivatives, it is thought to inhibit heme polymerase activity. This results in accumulation of free heme, which is toxic to the parasites. The drug binds the free heme preventing the parasite from converting it to a form less toxic. This drug-heme complex is toxic and disrupts membrane function. Amodiaquine is a Mannich base 4-aminoquinoline with a mode of action similar to that of chloroquine. It is effective against some chloroquine-resistant strains of P. falciparum, although there is cross-resistance. The 4-aminoquinoline derivatives appear to bind to nucleoproteins and interfere with protein synthesis in susceptible organisms; the drugs intercalate readily into double-stranded DNA and inhibit both DNA and RNA polymerase. In addition, the drugs apparently concentrate in parasite digestive vacuoles, increase the pH of the vacuoles, and interfere with the parasite's ability to metabolize and utilize erythrocyte hemoglobin. Plasmodial forms that do not have digestive vacuoles and do not utilize hemoglobin, such as exoerythrocytic forms, are not affected by /these medications/. The 4-aminoquinoline derivatives ... have anti-inflammatory activity; however, the mechanism(s) of action of the drugs in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and lupus erythematosus has not been determined. /4-aminoquinoline derivatives/ reportedly antagonizes histamine in vitro, has antiserotonin effects, and inhibits prostaglandin effects in mammalian cells presumably by inhibiting conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandin F2. The mode of action of amodiaquine has not yet been determined. 4-Aminoquinolines depress cardiac muscle, impair cardiac conductivity, and produce vasodilatation with resultant hypotension; they depress respiration and cause diplopia, dizziness and nausea.

Pharmacodynamics

Amodiaquine, a 4-aminoquinoline similar to chloroquine in structure and activity, has been used as both an antimalarial and an anti-inflammatory agent for more than 40 years. Amodiaquine is at least as effective as chloroquine, and is effective against some chloroquine-resistant strains, although resistance to amodiaquine has been reported. The mode of action of amodiaquine has not yet been determined. 4-Aminoquinolines depress cardiac muscle, impair cardiac conductivity, and produce vasodilatation with resultant hypotension. They depress respiration and cause diplopia, dizziness and nausea.

Mechanism of action

Artesunate is metabolized to the active DHA. the endoperoxide bridge of DHA reacts with heme, generating free radicals which inhibit protein and nucleic acid synthesis of the _Plasmodium_ parasites during all erythrocytic stages. Reactions with these free radicals can also lead to alkylation of parasitic proteins such as a calcium adenosine triphosphatase and EXP1, a glutathione S-transferase. Two theories have been put forward for the mode of antimalarial action of the artemisinin antimalarials, in accodance with the known properties of peroxides with medicinal activity. The first assumes that the artemisinins must be activated by contact with either reduced haem (ferrous haem, Fe(ll)PPIX) or non-haem ferrous iron (exogenous iron), causing cleavage of the peroxide to generate oxygen-centered radicals (alkoxy radicals') which are the presumed to be converted into carbon-centered radicals by transfer of proximate hydrogen atoms from the periphery of the peroxide molecule. These carbon-centered radicals are then thought to alkylate sensitive, yet unspecified, biomolecules in the parasite. A second theory argues for a process in which the intact artemisinin binds to a site within a vital protein in the parasite. The act of binding causes the peroxide to be converted to hydroperoxide or similar open peroxide, which in accordance with known properties of such compounds, generates one or more active chemical entities, either oxidizing agents or oxygen transfer agents per se, or oxygen-centered free radicals. This would be associated with the binding process. In such a way, the artemisinins might act as (irreversibile) inhibitors. Iron may, or may not, be associated with the activation process. No specific biological target in the parasite has yet been identified in support of this theory, but it may be membrane-bound proteins. Artesunate is a water soluble derivative of artemisinin, an antimalarial compound isolated from the Chinese herb Qinghao (Artemisia annua). Artesunate is rapidly metabolized to dihydroartemisinin (DHA) in the body. Chemically, artesunate, and its active metabolite, DHA, are sesquiterpene lactones with a trioxane ring containing a peroxide bridge. The peroxide bridge appears to be essential for the antimalarial activity of artesunate. Structure-activity relationship studies show that the deoxy derivative of DHA (that lack the peroxide bridge) was 277-fold less active than DHA. The activity of deoxyartesunate was not measured. Deoxy derivatives of other artemisinin analogs were 10- to 1000-fold less active compared to the parent compounds. Artesunate increases superoxide anion production and lipid peroxidation in falciparum-infected erythrocytes in vitro. However, artesunate does not suppress the activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione reductase, and glutathione peroxidase) in infected or uninfected erythrocytes. Erythrocytes infected with the ring or trophozoite forms in vitro accumulate 100- and 180- fold higher concentrations of DHA (12 nM ie, 3.40 ng/mL), respectively, compared to uninfected erythrocytes. These experiments were performed in a medium containing 10% human serum. The relevance of these findings to the uptake in vivo is unclear. The precise mechanism by which artesunate exhibits antiplasmodial activity is not understood. A 2025 systematic review notes Artesunate's pharmacological activities (antimalarial, antiparasite,antitumor, antivirus, antiinflammation, and antibacterial),and that it is a highly effective antimalarial agent with the potential to induce organ toxicity under certain conditions. The authors note that mechanisms of Artesunate-induced toxicity include oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptotic signaling patthhways.They also note that Artesunate ameliorates MASH (Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis) by reducing inflammation and lipid accumulation by regulating NLRP3 inflammasome and reducing lipid accumulation (SREBP-1c, FAS).

Pharmacodynamics

Artesunate is an artemisinin derivative that is metabolized to DHA, which generates free radicals to inhibit normal function of _Plasmodium_ parasites. It has a short duration of action due to its short half life, and a moderate therapeutic index. Patients should be counselled regarding the risk of post treatment hemolytic anemia and hypersenstivity.