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 other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Amphotericin B?

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

Before you receive 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 need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely receive amphotericin B.

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.

Amphotericin B Side Effects

What are the possible side effects of Amphotericin B?

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 include:

• 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

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Amphotericin B Interactions

What other drugs 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)

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with 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.

What should I avoid while taking 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 Dosage

How should I take Amphotericin B?

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 need to be tested on a regular basis. 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 overdose on Amphotericin B?

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

Overdose symptoms may include slow heart rate, and shallow breathing that slows or stops.

What happens if I miss a dose of Amphotericin B?

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.

Edited from everydayhealth.com