Drug interactions
Artemether / lumefantrine + Desflurane
Severity: Moderate
Artemether / lumefantrine and Desflurane: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Artemether/lumefantrine can prolong the QT interval, and lumefantrine has a long half-life. Desflurane adds further QT prolongation, which may raise the risk of ventricular arrhythmia.
What this interaction means in plain words
Artemether / lumefantrine and Desflurane can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Why it happens
Additive QT prolongation through delayed cardiac repolarization.
What to do
Check a baseline ECG and correct potassium and magnesium before anesthesia. Monitor the ECG during and after surgery, and defer elective procedures if possible.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
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Other interactions of Desflurane
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Artemether / lumefantrine with Desflurane?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Artemether / lumefantrine and Desflurane can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Artemether/lumefantrine can prolong the QT interval, and lumefantrine has a long half-life. Desflurane adds further QT prolongation, which may raise the risk of ventricular arrhythmia.
How serious is the interaction between Artemether / lumefantrine and Desflurane?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Check a baseline ECG and correct potassium and magnesium before anesthesia. Monitor the ECG during and after surgery, and defer elective procedures if possible.
What other medicines interact with Desflurane?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Desflurane with, for example, Amisulpride, Anagrelide, Arsenic trioxide. The full list is on the Desflurane page.
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