Details

Caspofungin is an antifungal medicine that fights infections caused by fungus. Caspofungin is used to treat fungal infections of the stomach, lungs, oesophagus, or other internal body areas. To make sure caspofungin is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have liver disease or if you have recently had a kidney, heart, or liver transplant. Caspofungin must be given slowly, and the IV infusion can take at least 1 hour to complete.

Typical Uses

Caspofungin is used to treat a variety of serious fungal infections. It is often used in patients who cannot use or do not respond to other antifungal medications (such as amphotericin B, itraconazole). Caspofungin belongs to a class of drugs known as echinocandins. It works by stopping the growth of fungus.

Side Effects

Some of the side effects of caspofungin include pain, swelling, or vein irritation around the IV needle fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms swelling in your hands or feet weakness, muscle cramps, pounding or uneven heart beats low potassium-confusion, uneven heart rate, extreme thirst, increased urination, leg discomfort, muscle weakness or limp feeling or liver problems-nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, tired feeling, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-coloured stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Drug Interactions

• Caspofungin+carbamazepine- Using carbamazepine together with caspofungin may cause caspofungin to be less effective. Let your doctor know if your infection worsens or your symptoms don't improve.

• Caspofungin+dexamethasone- Using dexamethasone together with caspofungin may cause caspofungin to be less effective. Let your doctor know if your infection worsens or your symptoms don't improve.

• Caspofungin+fosphenytoin- Using fosphenytoin together with caspofungin may cause caspofungin to be less effective. Let your doctor know if your infection worsens or your symptoms don't improve.

• Caspofungin+lomitapide- Lomitapide may cause liver problems, and using it with other medications that can also affect the liver such as caspofungin may increase that risk. You should avoid or limit the use of alcohol to no more than one drink per day while being treated with these medications.

Mechanism of action

Caspofungin inhibits the synthesis of beta-(1, 3)-D-glucan, an essential component of the cell wall of Aspergillus species and Candida species, beta-(1, 3)-D-glucan is not present in mammalian cells.

Pregnancy Category : C