Amphotericin B Lipid Complex (Injection, Intravenous)

Overview

Amphotericin B lipid complex is available in suspension that can be injected into a vein. It is typically injected slowly into the vein once in a day. The period of the patient's medications depends on the overall health of a patient, how the patient tolerates the treatment and the kind of infection the patient has.

The patient may experience a reaction while receiving a dosage of amphotericin B lipid complex injection. It typically happens between one to two hours after the start of infusion. The results usually are more regular and more ruthless with the very first few dosage of amphotericin B lipid complex. The patient's doctor is likely to prescribe other medications to lessen these side effects.

Amphotericin B injection can be received in a hospital or it can be infused at home. If the patient is using amphotericin B lipid complex injection at home, the healthcare provider will demonstrate to the patient how to infuse the medication.

In case the signs do not get better while under amphotericin B lipid complex medication, tell the doctor. It is also prudent to ask the pharmacist or doctor for a duplicate of the manufacturer's information for patients.

The U.S. brand name of amphotericin B injection is Abelcet. This medication is only possible with a qualified doctor's prescription.

Indications

Amphotericin B liquid complex is used to treat severe, fungal infections in patients who do not react or are incapable of tolerating the usual amphotericin B therapy. It functions by slowing down the increase of fungi in the body that cause illness by fastening to sterols in the fungal cell membrane.

Type of medicine

• Antifungal

Treatment of conditions

• Pneumonia
• Infection
• Chronic skin disease
• Fungal infection
• Occurrence of candida species yeast

Side effects

Amphotericin B lipid complex injection is likely to lead to side effects. A patient should inform the doctor if one or more of these symptoms do not go away or are severe:

• Stomach pain or cramping
• Heartburn
• Headache
• Coldness in the hands and feet
• Shortness of breath
• Loss of appetite
• Pale skin
• Injection site redness or swelling
• Diarrhea
• Weight loss
• Muscle or joint pain
• Dizziness

Some of the side effects can be severe. If a patient experiences any of these symptoms, a doctor should be called right away or emergency medical treatment sought:

• Rash
• Blood in stool
• Wheezing
• Itching
• Swelling of the throat, face, lips, tongue, eyes
• Black and tarry stools
• Skin blisters
• Yellowing of the eyes or skin
• Difficulty breathing
• Bloody vomit
• Decreased urination

Dosage

The dose of the drug varies from one patient to another. The doctor's order should be followed to the letter or follow the directions on the label.

The subsequent information includes only the standard doses of the drug. In case your treatment is dissimilar; do not alter it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of the drug that a patient takes depends on its potency, the number of doses a patient takes each day, the length of time and the time allowed between doses depends on the medical problem for which a patient is using the medicine.

Adults and children should take 5mg per kilogram of their body weight, per day slowly injected into a vein.

Interactions

Drug interactions may alter how medications work or add to the risk of severe side effects. It is advisable to keep a file of all the products a person uses including prescription as well as nonprescription drugs, vitamins and herbal products and share it with the pharmacist or doctor.

It is not advisable to start, stop, or alter the dosage of any drugs without the doctor's authorization.

Some the medications that may interact with this drug include:

• Anti-cancer drugs
• Azole antifungals
• Medications that affect the kidneys
• Zidovudine
• Antineoplastic agents
• Corticosteroids and corticotrophin
• Cyclosporine
• Digoxin
• Flucytosine
• Imidazoles such as ketoconazole
• Miconazole
• Clotrimazole
• Fluconazole
• Leukocyte transfusions
• Other nephrotoxic agents such as aminoglycosides and pentamidine
• Skeletal muscle relaxants

Using tobacco or alcohol with certain drugs may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your doctor the use of the drug with alcohol, food, or tobacco.

This drug is likely to tamper with specific laboratory tests, possibly causing false test results. Inform the doctors as well as laboratory personnel that you use this drug.

Warnings

• Inform the pharmacist or doctor if you are allergic to any medications, amphotericin B, or any of the components in the amphotericin B lipid complex injection.
• If a patient is having surgery, counting dental surgery, they should inform the dentist or doctor that they are under amphotericin B lipid complex injection.
• Inform the doctor if you are getting white blood cell transfusions.
• If you are a breastfeeding mother, avoid breastfeeding the baby while under amphotericin B complex lipid injection.
• Inform the doctor if you have or had kidney disease.
• Inform the pharmacist or the doctor what other prescription and nonprescription medications, nutritional supplements, vitamins, and herbal products you are planning to take or are already taking. The doctor may require changing the doses of the medicines or may put you under observation for side effects.
• Inform the doctor if you plan to get pregnant, or are pregnant or are breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while under amphotericin B lipid complex injection, call the doctor.
• Do not share your medications with any other person and do not also take any other person medication.
• Find out with your pharmacist or doctor about how to dispose of unused drugs.
• If your health problems or symptoms do not improve, call your doctor.
• Talk with the doctor or pharmacist before starting any new drug, including prescription or OTC, vitamins, or natural products.
• Keep all medicines in a secured place out of the reach of children and as well as pets.

Contraindications

Amphotericin B lipid complex injection should not be given to patients with hypersensitivity to any component or the active agent of the formulation.

Storage

• Before admixture, store refrigerated at 2- 8°C.
• Protect from direct light.
• Admixed with D5W, it's kept stable for up to 48 hours when refrigerated at 2- 8°C or keeping it for six hours at room temperature.
• Do not freeze

Overdose

If a patient suspects an overdose, they should get in touch with an emergency medical provider immediately. Some of the sign and symptoms of overdose include passing out or trouble breathing.

Missed dose

For the best obtainable benefit, it is important to receive each planned dose of this medication as directed by a physician. If a patient misses a dose, they should contact their physician your doctor right away to establish a new dosing plan. A patient should not at any point double the dose to catch up.

Summary

Amphotericin B is an antifungal agent fighting against a wide variety of fungal diseases. Amphotericin B displays its antifungal effect by interfering with the fungal cell which leads to the growth of pores that permit infiltration of cellular parts. This may also account for its toxic effects against some human cells.

Despite the introduction of newer antifungal drugs for the medication of fungal diseases, this antifungal drug remains the most appreciated medication for most extreme, invasive fungal infections. Conversely, the toxicities connected with its intravenous use, along with the widened accessibility of safer treatment options make it exclusive for patients who have severe, life-threatening invasive fungal infections or those who are unable to put up with alternative antifungal agents.

Patients who are on Amphotericin B Lipid Complex suspension are advised to be open and tell their doctor if they are in a way affected by any of the precaution points stated above to avoid severe interactions with the drug which can lead to death.

A patient should disclose to the doctor any drugs or medication they are under such as herbal drugs, over the counter drugs since failure to disclose the information may cause fatal reactions to amphotericin B lipid complex when combined.

In the unfortunate event of an overdose, a patient should visit a medical practitioner as soon as possible so that treatment of the overdose can commence immediately.

All medicines are likely to have side effects. Nevertheless, most people only have minor side effects or do not experience any side effect at all. A patient should call their doctor or get medical help if any of the listed side effects trouble you or do not go away: upset stomach or throwing up, loose stools and headache.

This drug has been tested in children in successful doses and has not been shown to lead to dissimilar side effects or problems than it does in adults.

This drug has been tested in a partial number of patients aged 65 years or older. The findings show that they do not cause dissimilar side effects or harms in older people than it does in younger adults.

A patient should keep all schedules with the laboratory or doctor. The doctor will order some laboratory tests during medication to check the body's reaction to the amphotericin B lipid complex injection.