# Artesunate-Amodiaquine in Nigeria Artesunate-Amodiaquine has 10 active NAFDAC registrations in our October 2026 copy of the register, from 5 registration holders; 13 further listings have lapsed. - Source: https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/artesunate-amodiaquine/ - Drug class: Antimalarial (Artemisinin combination) (Antimalarials) - Also known as: ASAQ, Camosunate, AS-AQ - Prescription required: no - On the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines - Last updated: August 2026 ## Price in Nigeria As of October 2026, the only artesunate-amodiaquine our sampled online pharmacies (HealthPlus, MedPlus and NettPharmacy) list is Camosunate, at about ₦1,725. That is Camosunate's price, not the molecule's: 10 artesunate-amodiaquine brands are NAFDAC-registered and generic versions usually cost less, so ask a licensed pharmacy for a generic by name and check its NAFDAC number before you pay. ## What is Artesunate-Amodiaquine? Artesunate-Amodiaquine (often shortened to ASAQ, and known in Nigeria through brands like Camosunate and Diasunate) is one of the World Health Organization's first-line Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies (ACTs) for uncomplicated malaria — the same family as artemether-lumefantrine (Coartem), and its main alternative in Nigeria's national treatment guidelines. It pairs artesunate, a fast-acting artemisinin that crashes the parasite load within hours, with amodiaquine, a longer-lasting partner drug that clears the parasites that remain. Combining the two protects each from resistance — the reason ACTs replaced chloroquine and single-drug treatments. Its practical difference from artemether-lumefantrine is the schedule: ASAQ is taken ONCE a day for 3 days, and does not need to be taken with fatty food. For people who struggle to complete Coartem's twice-daily, with-food course, that simplicity is the point — a malaria treatment only works if the full course actually gets taken. ## What is Artesunate-Amodiaquine used for? - Treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria, confirmed by test where possible - First-line alternative to artemether-lumefantrine under Nigeria's national malaria guidelines - Fixed-dose treatment of malaria in children, using age-banded strengths (infant, toddler, junior, adult) - NOT for malaria prevention (prophylaxis) — repeated preventive use of amodiaquine carries serious blood and liver risks ## Dosage Always follow a doctor's or pharmacist's instructions; this is general reference information. - Adults: Adults and adolescents 14 years and above: 200 mg artesunate + 540 mg amodiaquine once daily for 3 days — with the common 100mg/270mg tablets, that is 2 tablets once a day for 3 days, taken at about the same time each day. The full course is 6 tablets. - Children: Fixed doses by age band, once daily for 3 days: 2–11 months — one 25mg/67.5mg tablet daily; 1–5 years — one 50mg/135mg tablet daily; 6–13 years — one 100mg/270mg tablet daily. Dispersible and powder presentations (like Camosunate) can be dissolved in a little water for infants. If a dose is vomited within 30 minutes, repeat that dose. - Elderly: Standard adult dosing. Use with medical advice where there is known liver disease. Complete all 3 days even if you feel well after the first dose — stopping early is how malaria returns and how resistance grows. Fever should be settling within 48 hours; if you are getting worse at any point, or not better after the full course, go for a proper test and review rather than repeating another course blindly. ## Side effects Common: Weakness and tiredness (the classic amodiaquine complaint — many people describe ASAQ as 'strong'; it usually passes within a few days of finishing); Nausea, stomach pain or reduced appetite; Dizziness or lightheadedness; Sleep disturbance. Serious (seek medical help immediately): Severe allergic reaction (rash with swelling of face or throat, difficulty breathing); Unusual bruising, persistent sore throat or fever after treatment — possible sign of dangerously low white blood cells (neutropenia); Yellowing of the eyes or skin, dark urine — possible liver injury; Uncontrolled movements or muscle stiffness (rare, usually with overdose). When to see a doctor: Go to a clinic urgently if fever is worsening after 48 hours on treatment, if you cannot keep doses down for repeated vomiting, or for any of the serious signs above — and treat any malaria with confusion, convulsions, inability to drink, or extreme weakness as an emergency needing injectable artesunate in a facility, not tablets at home. ## Warnings Do not take if: Known allergy to artesunate, amodiaquine or related drugs; Previous serious reaction to amodiaquine (blood or liver problems); Severe malaria (danger signs, prostration, repeated convulsions) — needs injectable artesunate in a health facility first, not oral ACT alone; Use as malaria prevention/prophylaxis — amodiaquine taken repeatedly for prevention has caused severe neutropenia and hepatitis; this is a treatment course, not a preventive; Known retinal or severe liver disease — use only on medical advice. Interactions: Efavirenz (in some HIV regimens) — combining with ASAQ increases the risk of liver injury; tell the clinic you are on ARVs so they can choose artemether-lumefantrine instead; Zidovudine and co-trimoxazole — additive risk of low white blood cells; use with medical oversight; Other antimalarials — do not combine ACTs or add chloroquine 'to boost'; one full correct course is the treatment. Pregnancy & breastfeeding: In pregnancy, ACTs including ASAQ are used from the second trimester under Nigeria's guidelines; in the first trimester, treatment should be chosen by a clinician rather than self-prescribed. Breastfeeding on a standard treatment course is generally considered acceptable — tell the clinic you are nursing. ## Brands in Nigeria Well-known NAFDAC-registered brands: Camosunate (Geneith Pharmaceuticals Limited, made in China); Artesunate-Amodiaquine Winthrop (Sanofi-Aventis Nigeria Limited, made in Morocco); Diasunate (Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries Limited, made in Nigeria); ASAQ GPSC (Guilin Pharmaceuticals Nigeria Limited, made in China). Full searchable brand list: https://ogbogwu.com/drugs/artesunate-amodiaquine/brands/ ## How to verify it is genuine 1. Check for the NAFDAC registration number on the pack — every registered artesunate-amodiaquine product carries one. 2. Enter the number in our NAFDAC checker and confirm it matches this exact brand, strength and pack in your hand. 3. Antimalarials are the most-faked medicine class in Nigeria — buy from a licensed pharmacy or registered patent medicine store, and reject packs with blurry print, missing NAFDAC numbers or prices far below the market. 4. Check the expiry date and that the blister matches the carton (same brand, same batch style). 5. Genuine ACTs are age-banded — a seller offering one strength 'for everybody' is a warning sign in itself. Verify any NAFDAC number free (no login): https://ogbogwu.com/nafdac-checker/ ## FAQs ### Artesunate-Amodiaquine vs Coartem (artemether-lumefantrine) — which is better? Both are WHO first-line ACTs and both cure uncomplicated malaria in Nigeria when the course is completed. The real difference is practical: ASAQ is once daily for 3 days and doesn't need fatty food; Coartem is twice daily for 3 days and absorbs best with milk or food. People who react to amodiaquine with strong weakness often prefer artemether-lumefantrine; people who struggle to finish twice-daily courses often do better on ASAQ. Take one or the other — never both together. ### Why does artesunate-amodiaquine make me feel so weak? The tiredness is mostly the amodiaquine component, and it is the most common reason people abandon the course — which is the one thing you should not do. The weakness passes within a few days of finishing; malaria that comes back half-treated is worse than the side effect. Take the dose in the evening if the weakness disturbs your day, rest, and complete all 3 days. If instead of ordinary tiredness you develop yellowed eyes, unusual bruising or a new fever after treatment, see a doctor promptly. ### Is artesunate-amodiaquine NAFDAC approved? Yes — our copy of the NAFDAC Greenbook lists registered artesunate-amodiaquine products from multiple companies, including Camosunate (Geneith), Artesunate-Amodiaquine Winthrop (Sanofi), Diasunate (Emzor) and ASAQ GPSC (Guilin). Every registered product and its number is listed on this page — check the number printed on your pack against its own listing before you buy. ## Sources - NAFDAC Greenbook (official register of approved products in Nigeria) - WHO Model List of Essential Medicines - British National Formulary (BNF) - Nigerian Standard Treatment Guidelines (Federal Ministry of Health)