AMPHOTERICINB LIPID COMPLEX (Systemic)

Some commonly used brand names are:

In the U.S.?

• Abelcet

Category

• Antifungal (systemic)

Description

Amphotericin (am-foe-TER-i-sin) B lipid complex is an antifungal medicine.It is used to help the body overcome serious infections caused by fungus.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription, in thefollowing dosage form:

Parenteral
• Injection (U.S.)

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine,the risks of using the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do.This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For amphotericin B lipidcomplex, the following should be considered:

Allergies?Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual orallergic reaction to amphotericin B lipid complex. Also tell your health careprofessional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives,or dyes.

Pregnancy?Amphotericin B lipid complex has not been studiedin pregnant women. Before taking this medicine, make sure your doctor knowsif you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.

Breast-feeding?It is not known whether amphotericin B lipid complexpasses into breast milk. However, amphotericin B lipid complex is not recommendedduring breast-feeding, because it may cause unwanted effects in nursing infants.

Children?This medicine has been tested in children and, ineffective doses, has not been shown to cause different side effects or problemsthan it does in adults.

Older adults?This medicine has been tested in a limited numberof patients 65 years of age or older and has not been shown to cause differentside effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.

Other medicines?Although certain medicines should not be usedtogether at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used togethereven if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want tochange the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are usingamphotericin B lipid complex, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the following:

• Acyclovir by injection (e.g., Zovirax) or
• Aminoglycosides (amikacin [e.g., Amikin], gentamicin [e.g., Garamycin],kanamycin [e.g., Kantrex], neomycin [e.g., Mycifradin], netilmicin [e.g.,Netromycin], streptomycin, tobramycin [e.g., Nebcin]) or
• Anticonvulsants (medicine for seizures) or
• Bacitracin by injection or
• Capreomycin (e.g., Capastat) or
• Cidofovir (e.g., Vistide) or
• Ciprofloxacin (e.g., Cipro) or
• Cyclosporine (e.g., Sandimmune) or
• Deferoxamine (e.g., Desferal) or
• Demeclocycline (e.g., Declomycin) or
• Foscarnet (e.g., Foscavir) or
• Gold salts (medicine for arthritis) or
• Inflammation or pain medicine or
• Lithium or
• Oxytetracycline (e.g., Terramycin) or
• Pamidronate (e.g., Aredia) or
• Penicillamine (e.g., Cuprimine, Depen) or
• Pentamidine (e.g., NebuPent, Pentam 300) or
• Polymyxins by injection or
• Rifampin (e.g., Rifadin, Rimactane) or
• Sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim combination (e.g., Bactrim, Cotrim,Septra, Sulfatrim) or
• Sulfonamides (e.g., sulfadiazine, sulfamethizole [e.g., ThiosulfilForte], sulfamethoxazole [e.g., Gantanol, Urobak], sulfisoxazole [e.g., Gantrisin])or
• Tacrolimus (e.g., Prograf) or
• Tetracycline (e.g., Achromycin, Sumycin) or
• Tiopronin (e.g., Thiola) or
• Vancomycin by injection (e.g., Vancocin)?Use of these medicineswith amphotericin B lipid complex may increase the risk of side effects affectingthe kidneys

• Corticosteroids (cortisone-like medicine) or
• Corticotropin (ACTH) or
• Digitalis glycosides (heart medicine)?Use of amphotericin Blipid complex with corticosteroids, corticotropin, or digitalis medicines(such as digoxin) may cause changes in the blood that may increase the chanceof heart problems

• Antineoplastic agents (cancer medicine) or
• Chloramphenicol (e.g., Chloromycetin) or
• Clozapine (e.g., Clozaril) or
• Colchicine or
• Didanosine (e.g., Videx) or
• Eflornithine (e.g., Ornidyl) or
• Flucytosine (e.g., Ancobon) or
• Ganciclovir (e.g., Cytovene) or
• Interferon (e.g., Intron A, Roferon-A) or
• Uracil mustard or
• X-ray treatment or
• Zidovudine (e.g., AZT, Retrovir)?Use of these medicines orx-ray treatment with amphotericin B lipid complex may increase the risk ofside effects affecting the blood, kidneys, and lungs

Other medical problems?The presence of other medicalproblems may affect the use of amphotericin B lipid complex. Make sure youtell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Blood transfusion?Amphotericin B lipid complex may cause sideeffects affecting the lungs

• Kidney disease?Amphotericin B lipid complex may make your kidneyproblems worse

Proper Use of This Medicine

Dosing?The dose of amphotericin B lipid complex will be different fordifferent patients. The following information includes only the average dosesof amphotericin B lipid complex.

• For injection dosage form:
  • For treatment of serious infection caused by fungus:
    • Adults and children?5 milligrams per kilogram (2.27 mg perpound) of body weight per day, injected slowly into a vein.

Side Effects of This Medicine

Along with its needed effects, a medicine maycause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur,if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor as soon as possibleif any of the following side effects occur:

More common

Chills and fever; headache; nausea and vomiting

Less common

Difficulty in breathing; sore throatand fever; unusual bleeding or bruising; unusual tiredness and weakness

Rare

Increased or decreased urination

Other sideeffects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effectsmay go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However,check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or arebothersome:

More common

Diarrhea; loss of appetite; stomach pain

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. Ifyou notice any other effects, check with your doctor.