Malaria drugs sell the most in African Pharmacies because it is still the most deadly disease in sub Saharan Africa. Treatment is mostly combination therapy. For less complicated cases, single therapeutic doses are administered. Type and duration of treatment varies with the level of complication. Most complete doses are now limited to 3 days.

The drug forms range from Tablets, Powder, Dribs and injections, syrups and suspensions.

COMBINATION THERAPY

Coartem®

It contains artemether and lumefantrin. Artemeter is a sesquiterpene lactone isolated from the plant Artemissia annua, while lumefantrin is a synthetic racemic fluorine mixture. The mixture 20/120 is effective against both drug sensitive and drug resistant Plasmodium falciparum, and the combine effect enhances treatment to a greater effect than that of an individual drug.

Artefan® is another drug that contains artemeter and lumefantrin.

Both drugs are not administered during the first trimester of pregnancy and during breast feeding.

SINGLE THERAPEUTIC DOSE

E.g Maloxine®, Amalar® and Combimal®.

They are as well combination drugs comprising of Sulfadoxine and pyrimethamine.

The combination acts by reciprocal potentiation of its two components achieved by sequential blockage of the two enzymes involved in the biosynthesis folic acid in the parasites

The use of these medications is progressively declining since it is not very effective when the malaria is fully established. However it is used in cases where the symptoms are mild or in cases of pregnancy to prevent malaria

Other combination drugs in tablet form include; Co-Arinate, Artequin, Coarsucam, Quinine sulphate.

POWDERS

Co-Artesiane®

It contains artemeter and lumefantrin, in ratio 180/1080

The powder is diluted to form a 60ml solution. It is mostly administered to children. The full dose is taken in 3 days.

Malacur®

Powder contains 90mg Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) and 720mg Piperaquine phosphate. It is diluted to 60ml suspension. The solution can be stored for 14 days I refrigerator but only 7 days at room temperature. It is a 3day treatment for infants and children under the age of 6years.

Other powders for malaria are Artemediam® and Camoquin plus®.

DRIBS AND INJECTABLES

Quinimax®

It is administered through slow intravenous infusion deep intramuscular injection. It can effectively be administered during pregnancy. It contains 770.23mg quinine gluconate, 21.18mg quinidine gluconate and its excipients.

Other injectables include; Paluther, and Artenam.