INDICES> Arinate vs Arsumax

["MHM DAYA" <dpl@habari.co.tz>]

Dear Sir,

Both Arinate and Arsumax contain the same ingredient, Artesunate.
However Arinate tablet is 100mg, with Arsumax being 50mg.
The dose for Arinate is 2 stat, then 1 o.d. for 4 days.
The dose for Arsumax is 2 bd on day 1, then 1 bd for 4 days.
Obviously, compliance is better with Arinate, but suppliers of
Arsumax maintain that the half life of Artesunate is short, and
therefore an o.d. dose will not give sufficient cover to kill all
malaria
parasites in the blood.

Can someone verify this, by both logic and WHO reports?

Many Thanks in advance.

Mahmood H.M. Daya, MRPharmS
Pharmacist
Ithnasheri Charitable Hospital
P.O. Box 7176
Arusha
Tanzania
Tel: (027) 2502320/2548737/7692/6206
Mobile: 0744-271376
Fax (027) 2544460
E-mail: dpl@habari.co.tz (personal)
        ich@habari.co.tz (hospital)


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