What is the most important information I should know about posaconazole?
You should not use posaconazole together with: atorvastatin, lovastatin, simvastatin, pimozide, quinidine, sirolimus, or an ergot medicine (dihydroergotamine, ergotamine, ergonovine, or methylergonovine).
What is posaconazole?
Posaconazole is an antifungal medicine that fights certain infections caused by fungus.
Posaconazole is used to prevent fungal infections in people who have a weak immune system resulting from certain treatments or conditions (such as chemotherapy, stem cell transplantation, HIV infection, and others).
Posaconazole oral suspension (liquid) is used to treat oral thrush (yeast infection of the mouth) in adults and children who are at least 13 years old.
Posaconazole may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using posaconazole?
You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to posaconazole or similar antifungals such as clotrimazole, fluconazole, ketoconazole, miconazole, voriconazole, and others.
Many drugs can interact with posaconazole and some should not be used at the same time, especially:
- pimozide;
- quinidine;
- sirolimus;
-
cholesterol lowering medicines --atorvastatin, lovastatin, or simvastatin; or
-
ergot medicine --dihydroergotamine, ergotamine, ergonovine, or methylergonovine.
Tell your doctor if you have ever had:
- a heart rhythm disorder;
- long QT syndrome (in you or a family member); or
- liver or kidney disease.
It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant.
You should not breast-feed while using posaconazole.
Posaconazole oral is not approved for use by anyone younger than 13 years old.
How should I use posaconazole?
Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.
Posaconazole injection is given as an infusion into a vein by a healthcare provider.
The oral liquid and tablet forms of posaconazole are not equivalent and may not have the same dose or schedule. Ask your pharmacist if you have any questions about the kind of posaconazole you receive at the pharmacy.
Do not crush, chew, dissolve, or break a delayed-release tablet. Swallow it whole.
Shake the oral suspension well just before you measure a dose. Use only the dosing spoon provided with the medicine.
Take the delayed-release tablet with food. Take the oral suspension within 20 minutes after a full meal. If you cannot eat a full meal, take the oral suspension with a nutritional supplement or an acidic carbonated drink such as ginger ale.
Use this medicine for the full prescribed length of time. Your symptoms may improve before the infection is completely cleared. Skipping doses may also increase your risk of further infection that is resistant to antifungal medicine. Posaconazole will not treat a viral infection such as the flu or a common cold.
Call your doctor if you have ongoing vomiting or diarrhea. Posaconazole may not work as well while during this time.
You may need frequent blood tests.
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Do not freeze. Keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Use the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if your next dose is less than 12 hours away. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
What should I avoid while using posaconazole?
Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.
What are the possible side effects of posaconazole?
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
- fast or pounding heartbeats, fluttering in your chest, shortness of breath, and sudden dizziness (like you might pass out);
-
liver problems --nausea, vomiting, itching, feeling tired, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
-
low potassium --confusion, uneven heart rate, extreme thirst, increased urination, leg discomfort, muscle weakness or limp feeling.
Common side effects may include:
- diarrhea, nausea, vomiting;
- low potassium;
- headache;
- fever; or
- cough.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect posaconazole?
Many drugs can interact with posaconazole. Not all possible interactions are listed here. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using, especially:
- cimetidine, esomeprazole;
- midazolam;
- rifabutin;
-
cancer medicine --vinblastine, vincristine, vinorelbine;
-
HIV or AIDS medication --atazanavir, efavirenz, fosamprenavir, ritonavir; or
-
medicine to prevent organ transplant rejection --cyclosporine, tacrolimus.
This list is not complete and many other drugs can interact with posaconazole. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Give a list of all your medicines to any healthcare provider who treats you.
Where can I get more information?
Your pharmacist can provide more information about posaconazole.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Copyright 1996-2018 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 5.01. Revision date: 1/23/2018.
