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Generic Name: amphotericin B (am foe TER i sin)
Brand Names: Amphocin, Fungizone

What is amphotericin B?

Amphotericin B is an antibiotic that fights fungal infections in the body.

Amphotericin B is used to treat serious, life-threatening fungal infections. It is not for use in treating a minor fungal infection such as a yeast infection of the mouth, esophagus, or vagina.

Amphotericin is usually given after other antifungal antibiotics have been tried without successful treatment of symptoms.

Amphotericin B may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about amphotericin B?

Do not receive this medication if you are allergic to any formulation of amphotericin B (Abelcet, AmBisome, Amphotec, or Fungizone).

Before receiving amphotericin B, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have kidney disease or heart disease.

Amphotericin B is given as an injection through a needle placed into a vein. You will receive this injection in a clinic or hospital setting.

The medicine must be given slowly through an IV infusion, and can take up to 6 hours to complete.

Amphotericin B may need to be given for up to several weeks or months, depending on the infection being treated.

Some people receiving an amphotericin B injection have had a reaction to the infusion (either when the medicine is injected into the vein or within 1 to 3 hours afterward). Tell your caregiver right away if you feel dizzy, nauseated, light-headed, sweaty, feverish or cold, or if have a slow heartbeat, chest tightness, or trouble breathing.

What should I discuss with my health care provider before receiving amphotericin B?

Do not receive this medication if you are allergic to any formulation of amphotericin B (Abelcet, AmBisome, Amphotec, or Fungizone).

Before receiving amphotericin B, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

• kidney disease; or

• heart disease.

If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to receive amphotericin B, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.

FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether amphotericin B passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not receive this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How is amphotericin B given?

Amphotericin B is given as an injection through a needle placed into a vein. You will receive this injection in a clinic or hospital setting.

The medicine must be given slowly through an IV infusion, and can take up to 6 hours to complete.

While you are receiving your amphotericin B infusion, your caregivers will check your blood pressure, pulse, temperature, and lung function about every 30 minutes.

To be sure this medication is not causing harmful effects, your blood cells, kidney function, and liver function may also need to be tested. Amphotericin B can have long-lasting effects on your body. Do not miss any follow-up visits to your doctor for blood or urine tests.

Amphotericin B may need to be given for up to several weeks or months, depending on the infection being treated.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Since amphotericin B is usually given while you are in the hospital, it is not likely you will miss a dose of this medication.

If you are receiving amphotericin B in an outpatient clinic, call your doctor if you will miss an appointment for your amphotericin B injection.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

Symptoms of an amphotericin B overdose may include slow heart rate, and shallow breathing that slows or stops.

What should I avoid while receiving amphotericin B?

Amphotericin B may lower the blood cells that help your body fight other infections. This can make it easier for you to bleed from an injury or get sick from being around others who are ill. Avoid being near people who have colds, the flu, or other contagious illnesses. Contact your doctor at once if you develop signs of infection.

Amphotericin B side effects

Some people receiving an amphotericin B injection have had a reaction to the infusion (either when the medicine is injected into the vein or within 1 to 3 hours afterward). Tell your caregiver right away if you feel dizzy, nauseated, light-headed, sweaty, feverish or cold, or if you have a slow heartbeat, chest tightness, or trouble breathing. Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Tell your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• dry mouth, increased thirst, nausea, vomiting;

• extreme drowsiness, restless feeling, confusion;

• urinating more or less than usual, or not at all;

• muscle pain or weakness, fast or uneven heart rate, feeling light-headed, fainting;

• seizure (convulsions);

• fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;

• pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness; or

• nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Less serious side effects may also occur, such as:

• pain, swelling, or other irritation where the needle is placed;

• mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, upset stomach, loss of appetite;

• weight loss;

• muscle or joint aches;

• headache;

• warmth, redness, or tingly feeling under your skin; or

• skin itching or mild rash.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect amphotericin B?

Before receiving amphotericin B, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:

• flucytosine (Ancobon);

• digoxin (digitalis, Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps);

• pentamidine (Nebupent, Pentam);

• tacrolimus (Prograf);

• muscle relaxers;

• steroids (prednisone and others);

• antifungal antibiotics such as clotrimazole (Mycelex Troche), fluconazole (Diflucan), ketoconazole (Nizoral), or itraconazole (Sporanox);

• antibiotics such as capreomycin (Capastat), rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, Rifater), vancomycin (Vancocin, Vancoled);

• antiviral medicines such as acyclovir (Zovirax), adefovir (Hepsera), cidofovir (Vistide), or foscarnet (Foscavir); or

• cancer medicine such as aldesleukin (Proleukin), carmustine (BiCNU, Gliadel), cisplatin (Platinol), ifosfamide (Ifex), oxaliplatin (Eloxatin), plicamycin (Mithracin), streptozocin (Zanosar), or tretinoin (Vesanoid).

If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to receive amphotericin B, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.

There may be other drugs not listed that can affect amphotericin B. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist has information about amphotericin B written for health professionals that you may read.

• Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are receiving, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2006 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 1.02. Revision Date: 07/13/2007 10:01:36 AM.