Amphotericin B, Injection

What are other names for this medicine?

Generic and brand names: amphotericin B, injection; liposomal amphotericin B, injection; Abelcet Suspension for Injection; AmBisome; Amphotec; 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. One form of this medicine, AmBisome is also used to treat brain infections in HIV patients and fever related to white blood cell count in cancer patients

How should I use it?

This medicine is given by your health care 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 health care provider will explain how often you need this medicine.

Your health care provider may prescribe other medicines to be taken or given by injection to lessen the common side effects of this medicine. Follow your health care provider's instructions regarding other medicines.

What should I watch out for?

Your health care provider will order various 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.

This medicine can cause many side effects, including fever, pain in muscles or joints, loss of appetite, headache, trouble breathing, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, chest pain, and rash. Contact your health care provider if any of these reactions become severe or don't go away.

Females of childbearing age: Tell your health care provider if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. Do not breast-feed while receiving this medicine.

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 health care provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Serious (report these to your health care provider right away): Fever, trouble breathing, chest pain, pain in your arms or legs, vomiting, nausea.

Other: Loss of appetite, muscle or joint pains, diarrhea, abdominal pain, pain at the spot where the injection is given, rash, weight loss vision problems, hearing loss.

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 health care provider if you are taking:

• antibacterial medicines such as gentamicin (Garamycin), amikacin (Amikin), and tobramycin (Nebcin)
• antifungal medicines such as itraconazole (Sporanox) and ketoconazole (Nizoral)
• cortisonelike medicines, such as prednisone (Meticorten, Deltasone), hydrocortisone (Hydrocortone, Cortef), dexamethasone (Decadron, Hexadrol), methylprednisolone (Medrol), and cortisone (Cortone)
• cyclosporine (Sandimmune)
• digitalis and digoxin (Lanoxin)
• flucytosine (Ancobon)
• medicines used to treat cancer
• muscle relaxants that are used during surgery (be sure your health care provider knows about all medicines you are taking before you have any surgery)
• thiazide diuretics such as chlorothiazide (Diuril), hydrochlorothiazide (HydroDIURIL, Esidrix), polythiazide (Renese), and bendroflumethiazide (Naturetin)
• zidovudine (AZT, Retrovir).

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all health care 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 health care 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.