CASPOFUNGIN

COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Cancidas

GENERIC NAME(S): CASPOFUNGIN ACETATE

Description: Caspofungin kills fungi by stopping its synthesis of cell wall.

Uses

Caspofungin, an echinocandin, treats a variety of serious fungal infections by stopping the growth of fungus. It is often used in patients who cannot use or do not respond to other antifungal medications (such as amphotericin B, itraconazole).

How to use caspofungin intravenous

This medication is usually given by injection into a vein as directed by your doctor, usually once a day. It should be injected slowly over 1 hour. The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment.

If you are giving this medication to yourself at home, learn all preparation and usage instructions from your health care professional. Do not shake the container. Before using, check this product visually for particles or discoloration. If either is present, do not use the liquid. Learn how to store and discard medical supplies safely.

Continue to use this medication for the full treatment course, even if symptoms disappear after a few days. Stopping the medication too early may allow bacteria to continue to grow, which may result in a return of the infection.

Tell your doctor if your condition persists or worsens.

Warnings

Side Effects

Tell your doctor if any of these effects persist or worsen:

nausea
diarrhea
fever
red/warm skin (flushing)
headache
irritation at the injection site

Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects, including:

persistent nausea/vomiting
severe stomach/abdominal pain
dark urine
yellowing eyes/skin

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare.

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

Precautions

Precautions

Allergic reaction to this medication.
Patients with medical history of liver problems.
This medication should be used only when clearly needed during pregnancy.
Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Consult your doctor regarding the precautions mentioned above.

Interactions

Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions.

Some products that may interact with this drug include:

carbamazepine
cyclosporine
dexamethasone
tacrolimus
certain HIV medications (efavirenz, nevirapine)
phenytoin
rifampin

Overdose & Brands

Overdose

If overdose is suspected, contact a poison control center or emergency room immediately.

Notes: Laboratory and/or medical tests (such as blood cultures, liver function tests) may be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details.

Missed Dose: For the best possible benefit, it is important to receive each scheduled dose of this medication as directed. If you miss a dose, contact your doctor immediately to establish a new dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

Storage: Consult the product instructions and your pharmacist for storage details. Keep all medications away from children and pets.

Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company.

Brands

Also marketed as

BDCaspo-50/BDCaspo-70 [ BDR Pharma ]
Cancidas [ Merck Sharp & Dohme ]