Amphocin

Generic Name: amphotericin b (Intravenous route, Injection route)

am-foe-TER-i-sin B

Intravenous route(Powder for Solution)

Use primarily for the treatment of patients with progressive and potentially life-threatening fungal infections. It should not be used to treat noninvasive forms of fungal disease such as oral thrush, vaginal candidiasis and esophageal candidiasis in patients with normal neutrophil counts. Amphotericin B intravenous should not be given at doses greater than 1.5 mg/kg. Exercise caution to prevent inadvertent overdose, which can result in potentially fatal cardiac or cardiopulmonary arrest. Verify the product name and dosage if dose exceeds 1.5 mg/kg .

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

• Amphocin


• Fungizone

Available Dosage Forms:

• Powder for Solution


• Injectable

Therapeutic Class: Antifungal

Chemical Class: Polyene

Uses For Amphocin

Amphotericin B is an antifungal. It is used to help the body overcome serious fungus infections. It may also be used for other problems as determined by your doctor.

Amphotericin B is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Before Using Amphocin

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Although there is no specific information comparing use of amphotericin B in children with use in other age groups, this medicine is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in children than it does in adults.

Geriatric

Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use of amphotericin B in the elderly with use in other age groups.

Pregnancy

	Pregnancy Category	Explanation
All Trimesters	B	Animal studies have revealed no evidence of harm to the fetus, however, there are no adequate studies in pregnant women OR animal studies have shown an adverse effect, but adequate studies in pregnant women have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Arsenic Trioxide

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Cyclosporine

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Kidney disease—Amphotericin B may cause side effects affecting the kidneys

Proper Use of amphotericin b

This section provides information on the proper use of a number of products that contain amphotericin b. It may not be specific to Amphocin. Please read with care.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

• For the injection dosage form:
  
  • Adults and children: A small test dose is usually given first to see how you react to the medicine. The dose is then increased, depending on what your infection is and how well you tolerate the medicine. The dose must be determined by your doctor.
  
  

Amphocin Side Effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More commonWith intravenous injection

• Fever and chills


• headache


• increased or decreased urination


• irregular heartbeat


• muscle cramps or pain


• nausea


• pain at the place of injection


• unusual tiredness or weakness


• vomiting

Less common or rareWith intravenous injection

• Blurred or double vision


• convulsions (seizures)


• numbness, tingling, pain, or weakness in hands or feet


• shortness of breath, troubled breathing, wheezing, or tightness in chest


• skin rash or itching


• sore throat and fever


• unusual bleeding or bruising

With spinal injection

• Blurred vision or any change in vision


• difficult urination


• numbness, tingling, pain, or weakness

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More commonWith intravenous injection

• Diarrhea


• headache


• indigestion


• loss of appetite


• nausea or vomiting


• stomach pain

Less commonWith spinal injection

• Back, leg, or neck pain


• dizziness or lightheadedness


• headache


• nausea or vomiting

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

See also: Amphocin side effects (in more detail)

The information contained in the Thomson Reuters Micromedex products as delivered by Drugs.com is intended as an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatment. It is not a substitute for a medical exam, nor does it replace the need for services provided by medical professionals. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before taking any prescription or over the counter drugs (including any herbal medicines or supplements) or following any treatment or regimen. Only your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for you.

The use of the Thomson Reuters Healthcare products is at your sole risk. These products are provided "AS IS" and "as available" for use, without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. Thomson Reuters Healthcare and Drugs.com make no representation or warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, usefulness or completeness of any of the information contained in the products. Additionally, THOMSON REUTERS HEALTHCARE MAKES NO REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTIES AS TO THE OPINIONS OR OTHER SERVICE OR DATA YOU MAY ACCESS, DOWNLOAD OR USE AS A RESULT OF USE OF THE THOMSON REUTERS HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS. ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE ARE HEREBY EXCLUDED. Thomson Reuters Healthcare does not assume any responsibility or risk for your use of the Thomson Reuters Healthcare products.

More Amphocin resources

• Amphocin Side Effects (in more detail)
• Amphocin Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Amphocin Drug Interactions
• Amphocin Support Group
• 0 Reviews for Amphocin - Add your own review/rating

• Amphocin MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)


• Amphotericin B Professional Patient Advice (Wolters Kluwer)


• Amphotericin B Monograph (AHFS DI)


• Amphotericin B Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Fungizone Prescribing Information (FDA)


• amphotericin B Concise Consumer Information (Cerner Multum)

Compare Amphocin with other medications

• Aspergillosis, Aspergilloma
• Aspergillosis, Invasive
• Blastomycosis
• Candida Infections, Systemic
• Candida Urinary Tract Infection
• Coccidioidomycosis
• Coccidioidomycosis, Meningitis
• Cryptococcal Meningitis, Immunocompetent Host
• Cryptococcal Meningitis, Immunosuppressed Host
• Cryptococcosis
• Esophageal Candidiasis
• Fungal Endocarditis
• Fungal Infection Prophylaxis
• Histoplasmosis, Immunocompenent Host
• Histoplasmosis, Meningitis
• Leishmaniasis
• Oral Thrush
• Paracoccidioidomycosis
• Sporotrichosis