Acetaminophen (Paracetamol) and Coartem Interaction

QUESTION

Can I take paracetamol (acetaminophen) with Coartem?

ANSWER

Yes – there are no known drug interactions or contra-indications between these two medications. Paracetamol (known as acetaminophen in the USA) is a very effective way of reducing fever so can be used to this end, together with specific anti-malaria medication such as Coartem, during a malaria attack.

Taking other Pills with Malaria Medication

QUESTION

If Its okay to take ACE DIET supplements if Im taking MALARIA pills?

ANSWER

If you are taking natural ACE supplement pills, then the active ingredients are usually caffeine, cocoa and maybe green tea. None of these compounds has any observed interaction with malaria pills, so they should be safe to take at the same time. However, without knowing exactly which type of ACE pills and malaria pills you are taking, it is impossible to say for certain. You should consult your physician for specific advice on this matter.

Artemether, Lumefantrine Given with Ceftriaxone

QUESTION

Can ceftriaxone be given with artemether/lumefantrine for treatment of malaria?

ANSWER

As far as I know, there are no known interactions between cefriaxone and artemether/lumefantrine, and no specific contraindications. However, you should consult with a physician before taking both in combination.

Also, since ceftriaxone is usually used to treat bacterial infections, it may be that it is a better to treat the malarial infection and the concurrent bacterial infection one at a time, as heavy antibiotics in addition to the anti-malarials may stress the immune system and liver of the patient unnecessarily, particularly if the patient is already weakened.