Amphotericin B, Injection

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antifungal

Generic and brand names: amphotericin B, injection; liposomal amphotericin B, injection; Abelcet Suspension for Injection; AmBisome; Amphocin; Amphotec; Fungizone Liposomal; Fungizone Intravenous

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is given by IV infusion (slow drip through a needle into a large vein) to treat severe fungal infections that could become life-threatening. It may be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• kidney disease

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I use it?

This medicine is given by your healthcare provider. The type and seriousness of a fungal infection determine how often you need infusions and how much medicine you need. Some treatments are given for several months. Your healthcare provider will explain how often you need this medicine.

Your healthcare provider may prescribe other medicines to lessen side effects of this medicine. Follow your healthcare provider's instructions regarding other medicines.

What should I watch out for?

This is a very strong medicine used to treat very serious fungal infections. It should only be given in a setting where you can be monitored closely. You need to have lab tests to determine how the medicine is affecting you. Keep all appointments for these tests.

Severe reactions such as fever, shaking chills, low blood pressure, nausea, headache, and rapid breathing may occur within 1 or 2 hours after starting an IV infusion. These reactions are usually more severe with the first few doses of this medicine and become less severe later.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Fever and chills; chest pain; pain in your arms or legs; decreased urination; vision changes; ringing in the ears or hearing loss; irregular heartbeat; fainting; seizures; swelling of your face, ankles, and feet; severe nausea or vomiting; severe tiredness or weakness; unusual bleeding or bruising; redness on your feet, hands, or neck.

Other: Loss of appetite; weight loss; headache; muscle or joint pains; diarrhea; stomach; pain at the spot where the injection is given; rash.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• antibiotics such as gentamicin, amikacin, vancomycin (Vancocin), and tobramycin
• antifungal medicines such as flucytosine (Ancobon), itraconazole (Sporanox), fluconazole (Diflucan), and ketoconazole (Nizoral)
• corticosteroids such as cortisone (Cortone), betamethasone (Celestone), dexamethasone, fludrocortisone (Florinef), hydrocortisone (Cortef, Hydrocortone, A-HydroCort), methylprednisolone (Medrol), prednisone (Meticorten), prednisolone (Delta-Cortef), and triamcinolone (Aristocort, Kenacort)
• immunosuppressants such as cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral, Gengraf), and tacrolimus (Prograf)
• digoxin (Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps, Digitek)
• medicines used to treat cancer
• thiazide diuretics such as chlorothiazide (Diuril), hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide), and polythiazide (Renese)
• zidovudine (AZT, Retrovir)

Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.