Pack PLR Content Marketing Sri Lanka: posaconazole

poe-sa-KON-a-zole

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

Noxafil

Available Dosage Forms:

Suspension

Therapeutic Class: Antifungal

Chemical Class: Triazole

Uses For posaconazole

Posaconazole is used to prevent certain fungus infections in patients 13 years of age and older, who have a weakened immune system (e.g., hematopoietic stem cell transplant or HSCT recipients, or patients with blood cancers). Posaconazole is also used to treat a fungus infection of the mouth or throat called oral thrush (candidiasis). posaconazole may be used as an initial treatment or after treatment with other antifungal medicines (e.g., itraconazole or fluconazole) have failed.

posaconazole is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Before Using posaconazole

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

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to posaconazole or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of posaconazole in children and teenagers 13 to 17 years of age. However, safety and efficacy have not been established in children younger than 13 years of age.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of posaconazole in the elderly.

Pregnancy

	Pregnancy Category	Explanation
All Trimesters	C	Animal studies have shown an adverse effect and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women OR no animal studies have been conducted and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking posaconazole, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using posaconazole with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

Alfuzosin

Amiodarone

Astemizole

Cisapride

Clarithromycin

Clozapine

Crizotinib

Dasatinib

Dihydroergotamine

Disopyramide

Dofetilide

Dronedarone

Ergoloid Mesylates

Ergonovine

Ergotamine

Erythromycin

Halofantrine

Iloperidone

Lapatinib

Lopinavir

Lumefantrine

Mefloquine

Mesoridazine

Methadone

Methylergonovine

Methysergide

Nilotinib

Ondansetron

Pazopanib

Pimozide

Propafenone

Quetiapine

Quinidine

Quinine

Ranolazine

Salmeterol

Saquinavir

Simvastatin

Sirolimus

Solifenacin

Sorafenib

Sparfloxacin

Sunitinib

Telithromycin

Terfenadine

Thioridazine

Toremifene

Trazodone

Vardenafil

Vemurafenib

Voriconazole

Ziprasidone

Using posaconazole with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Amitriptyline

Amoxapine

Apomorphine

Arsenic Trioxide

Asenapine

Atorvastatin

Azithromycin

Boceprevir

Chloroquine

Chlorpromazine

Cimetidine

Ciprofloxacin

Citalopram

Clomipramine

Cyclosporine

Desipramine

Dolasetron

Droperidol

Efavirenz

Etravirine

Everolimus

Flecainide

Fluconazole

Gatifloxacin

Gemifloxacin

Granisetron

Haloperidol

Ibutilide

Imipramine

Levofloxacin

Lovastatin

Midazolam

Moxifloxacin

Norfloxacin

Nortriptyline

Octreotide

Ofloxacin

Paliperidone

Perflutren Lipid Microsphere

Phenytoin

Procainamide

Prochlorperazine

Promethazine

Protriptyline

Rifabutin

Rifampin

Rivaroxaban

Ruxolitinib

Sodium Phosphate

Sodium Phosphate, Dibasic

Sodium Phosphate, Monobasic

Sotalol

Tacrolimus

Telavancin

Tetrabenazine

Trifluoperazine

Trimipramine

Vandetanib

Vinblastine

Vincristine

Vincristine Liposome

Vinorelbine

Using posaconazole with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Atazanavir

Digoxin

Esomeprazole

Metoclopramide

Ritonavir

Topiramate

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Proper Use of posaconazole

posaconazole comes with a patient information leaflet. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions.

Shake the oral suspension well before measuring the dose. Use the dosing spoon in the package to measure the dose. The average household teaspoon may not hold the right amount of liquid. Rinse the measuring spoon with water after using and before storage.

Take posaconazole during or right after (within 20 minutes) a full meal or liquid nutritional supplement. posaconazole may also be taken with an acidic beverage (e.g., ginger ale).

posaconazole works best when there is a constant amount in the blood. To help keep the amount constant, do not miss any doses. Also, it is best to take each dose at the same time every day. If you need help in planning the best time to take your medicine, check with your doctor.

Dosing

The dose of posaconazole will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of posaconazole. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

For oral dosage form (suspension):
- For prevention of fungus infections:
  - Adults and teenagers—200 milligrams (mg) or 5 milliliters (mL) three times a day.
  - Children younger than 13 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
- For initial treatment of oral candidiasis:
  - Adults and teenagers—100 milligrams (mg) or 2.5 milliliters (mL) two times a day on the first day, then 100 mg or 2.5 mL once a day for 13 days.
  - Children younger than 13 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
- For treatment of oral candidiasis after failed treatment with itraconazole or fluconazole:
  - Adults and teenagers—400 milligrams (mg) or 10 milliliters (mL) two times a day.
  - Children younger than 13 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of posaconazole, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Precautions While Using posaconazole

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you should continue to take it. Blood tests will be needed to check for unwanted effects.

You should not use ergotamine medicines (e.g., bromocriptine, dihydroergotamine, ergonovine, ergotamine, methylergonovine, methysergide, Ergomar®, Ergotrate®, Methergine®, Migranal®, Parlodel®, or Sansert®), pimozide (Orap®), quinidine (Quinaglute®), simvastatin (Zocor®), or sirolimus (Rapamune®). Using any of them together with posaconazole may increase the chance of unwanted effects.

posaconazole can cause changes in heart rhythms, such as a condition called QT prolongation. It may change the way your heart beats and cause fainting or serious side effects in some patients. Contact your doctor right away if you have any symptoms of heart rhythm problems, such as fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeats.

Stop using posaconazole and check with your doctor right away if you have pain or tenderness in the upper stomach; pale stools; dark urine; loss of appetite; nausea; unusual tiredness or weakness; or yellow eyes or skin. These could be symptoms of a serious liver problem.

Check with your doctor right away if you have severe diarrhea or vomiting while using posaconazole.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

posaconazole Side Effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause 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 immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

abdominal or stomach pain

black, tarry stools

bleeding gums

bloody nose

blurred vision

body aches or pain

burning or stinging of the skin

chills

confusion

cough

cracked lips

decreased urine

diarrhea

difficult or labored breathing

dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position

drowsiness

dry mouth

dry or sore throat

ear congestion

feeling unusually cold

fever

flushed, dry skin

fruit-like breath odor

headache

heavy non-menstrual vaginal bleeding

increased hunger

increased thirst

increased urination

irregular heartbeats

loss of appetite

loss of voice

mood changes

muscle pain

muscle spasms or twitching

nasal congestion

nausea or vomiting

numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, lips, mouth, or fingertips

painful cold sores or blisters on the lips, nose, eyes, or genitals

painful or difficult urination

pale skin

pounding in the ears

runny nose

shivering

slow or fast heartbeat

small red or purple spots on the skin

sneezing

sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips, tongue, or inside mouth

sweating

tender, swollen glands in the neck

tightness in the chest

trembling

trouble with swallowing

unexplained weight loss

yellow eyes or skin

Less common

Fainting

irregular heartbeat, recurrent

Incidence not known

Anxiety

change in mental status

chest pain or discomfort

darkening of the skin

difficulty speaking

itching

mental depression

seizures

skin rash

sudden shortness of breath or troubled breathing

swelling of the eyes or eyelids

swelling of the face, fingers, feet, or lower legs

weakness

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

Acid or sour stomach

back pain

belching

bone pain

difficulty having a bowel movement (stool)

difficulty with moving

heartburn

indigestion

muscle stiffness

pain in the joints

sleeplessness

stomach discomfort or upset

trouble sleeping

unable to sleep

weight loss

Less common

Bad, unusual, or unpleasant (after) taste

change in taste

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

See also: posaconazole side effects (in more detail)

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More posaconazole resources

Posaconazole Side Effects (in more detail)
Posaconazole Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Posaconazole Drug Interactions
Posaconazole Support Group
1 Review for Posaconazole - Add your own review/rating

Posaconazole Professional Patient Advice (Wolters Kluwer)

Posaconazole Monograph (AHFS DI)

Posaconazole Suspension MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)

Noxafil Prescribing Information (FDA)

Noxafil Consumer Overview

Compare posaconazole with other medications

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Pack PLR Content Marketing Sri Lanka

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

posaconazole