Description and Brand Names

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

US Brand Name

1. Eraxis

Descriptions

Anidulafungin is an antifungal medicine. It is used to treat fungal infections including candidemia (fungal infection in the blood), candida peritonitis and abscess (fungal infection in the stomach), esophageal candidiasis (fungal infection in the esophagus), and other fungal infections (including infections in the stomach).

This medicine is to be given only by or under the direct supervision of a doctor.

This product is available in the following dosage forms:

• Powder for Solution

Before Using

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 this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine 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 have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of anidulafungin injection in children younger than 1 month of age with candidemia or candida peritonitis and abscess. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of anidulafungin injection in children with esophageal candidiasis. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of anidulafungin injection in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more sensitive to the effects of this medicine than younger adults.

Breastfeeding

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.

Drug Interactions

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 receiving this medicine, 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 this medicine 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.

• Levoketoconazole
• Methotrexate

Other Interactions

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. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Allergies to other echinocandin antifungal drugs (eg, caspofungin [Cancidas®], micafungin [Mycamine®])—Should not be used in patients with this condition.

• Fructose intolerance (rare hereditary problem)—Should not be used in patients with this condition.

• Liver disease—Use with caution. May make this condition worse.

Proper Use

A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine. This medicine is given through a needle placed in one of your veins. This medicine is given slowly, so the needle will have to remain in place for 45 minutes to 3 hours.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check you closely while you are receiving this medicine. This is to make sure the medicine has worked properly. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Check with your doctor right away if you or your child 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.

This medicine may cause a serious type of allergic reaction called anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Call your doctor right away if you have a rash, itching, hoarseness, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth after receiving this medicine.

This medicine contains polysorbate 80, which can increase the risk for polysorbate toxicity in low-birth weight infants. Talk with your doctor if you have any concerns about this.

It is important to tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.

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 or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Less common

1. Black, tarry stools
2. chills
3. cough
4. decreased urine
5. dry mouth
6. fever
7. increased thirst
8. irregular heartbeat
9. loss of appetite
10. lower back or side pain
11. mood or mental changes
12. muscle pain or cramps
13. nausea
14. numbness or tingling in the hands, feet or lips
15. painful or difficult urination
16. pale skin
17. seizures
18. sore throat
19. sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
20. trouble breathing
21. unusual bleeding or bruising
22. unusual tiredness or weakness
23. vomiting

Rare

1. Back pain
2. bleeding gums
3. blood in the urine or stools
4. bloody stools
5. bluish color of skin
6. blurred or loss of vision
7. changes in skin color
8. chest pain or tightness
9. clay-colored stools
10. constipation
11. dark urine
12. depression
13. diarrhea
14. dizziness
15. dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
16. drowsiness
17. extra heartbeats
18. fainting
19. fast heartbeat
20. flushed, dry skin
21. flushing
22. fruit-like breath odor
23. headache
24. hives or welts
25. incoherent speech
26. increased hunger
27. increased urination
28. irregular fast heartbeat
29. irritability
30. itching
31. large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
32. light-colored stools
33. metallic taste
34. muscle spasms (tetany) or twitching
35. muscle weakness
36. nervousness
37. pain, redness, or swelling in the arm or leg
38. pain, tenderness, and swelling of foot or leg
39. pinpoint red spots on the skin
40. pounding in the ears
41. redness of the skin
42. restlessness
43. skin rash
44. slow heartbeat
45. sore mouth or tongue
46. stomach pain
47. sweating
48. swelling of the feet or lower legs
49. swollen glands
50. trembling
51. unexplained weight loss
52. unpleasant breath odor
53. unusually warm skin
54. vomiting of blood
55. weakness
56. weight loss
57. white patches in the mouth or throat or on the tongue
58. white patches with diaper rash
59. yellow eyes or skin

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:

Rare

1. Acid or sour stomach
2. belching
3. bloating or swelling of the face, arms, hands, lower legs, or feet
4. disturbed color perception
5. double vision
6. eye pain
7. feeling of warmth
8. feeling unusually cold
9. halos around light
10. indigestion
11. loss of bowel control
12. night blindness
13. over bright appearance of lights
14. rapid weight gain
15. redness of the face, neck, arms, and occasionally, upper chest
16. shivering
17. stomach discomfort or upset
18. tingling of the hands or feet
19. tunnel vision
20. unusual weight gain or loss

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.

Portions of this document last updated: Feb. 01, 2024

Original article: https://www.mayoclinic.org/es-es/drugs-supplements/anidulafungin-intravenous-route/before-using/drg-20068124