Details

Amphotericin B is an antifungal medication that fights infections caused by fungus. 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, oesophagus or vagina. Amphotericin B should not be used in larger amounts as an overdose can cause death. To make sure amphotericin B is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, an electrolyte imbalance, if you are receiving blood transfusions or if you are receiving radiation treatments.

Typical Uses

Amphotericin B is used to treat a variety of serious, possibly fatal fungal infections. It works by stopping the growth of fungi. It may also be used to prevent fungal infections in patients with fevers and low white blood cell (Neutrophil) counts or patients with weakened immune systems (e.g., due to HIV, organ transplant, or cancer). Amphotericin B is injected into a vein through an IV. A doctor will give you this injection. The medicine must be given slowly through an IV infusion, and can take from 2 to 6 hours to complete.

Side Effects

Get emergency medical help if you have pale skin, easy bruising blood in your stools a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out seizure (convulsions) jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes) build-up of fluid in your lungs-anxiety, sweating, gasping for breath, cough with foamy mucus, chest pain, fast or uneven heart rate signs of a kidney problem-little or no urinating painful or difficult urination swelling in your feet or ankles feeling tired or short of breath low potassium-confusion, uneven heart rate, extreme thirst, increased urination, leg discomfort, muscle weakness or limp feeling or signs of new infection-fever, chills, flu symptoms, mouth and throat ulcers, rapid and shallow breathing.

Drug Interactions

• Amphotericin B+adefovir- Talk to your doctor before using adefovir together with amphotericin B. Adefovir may cause kidney problems, and combining it with other medications that can also affect the kidney such as amphotericin B may increase that risk.

• Amphotericin B+amiodarone- Talk to your doctor before using amiodarone together with amphotericin B. Combining these medications can increase the risk of an irregular heart rhythm that may be serious.

• Amphotericin B+deferasirox- Talk to your doctor before using deferasirox together with amphotericin B. Deferasirox may cause kidney problems, and combining it with other medications that can also affect the kidney such as amphotericin B may increase that risk.

• Amphotericin B+cidofovir- Using cidofovir together with amphotericin B is not recommended. Cidofovir may cause kidney damage, and combining it with other medications that can also affect the kidney such as amphotericin B may increase that risk.

Mechanism of action

Amphotericin B belongs to class of medications called polyene antimycotics. It acts on the outer covering (cell membrane) of the fungus resulting in leakage of essential nutrients from within the cells, thereby killing them. It is also effective in treating leishmaniasis. Newer preparations of this medication with lipid are now available which show lesser side effects than the older preparations.

Pregnancy Category : B