Drug Database: Amphotericin B

What is amphotericin B?What is amphotericin B?

What is amphotericin B?

Amphotericin B is an antifungal prescription medicine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of several types of fungal infections, such as histoplasmosis and cryptococcosis. Amphotericin B is also FDA-approved for the treatment of leishmaniasis, which is a parasitic infection. The FDA-approved uses for amphotericin B can vary depending on the formulation of the drug.

Many of the infections for which amphotericin B treatment is FDA-approved can be opportunistic infections (OIs) of HIV. An OI is an infection that occurs more frequently or is more severe in people with weakened immune systems—such as people with HIV—than in people with healthy immune systems. To learn more about OIs, read the HIVinfo What is an Opportunistic Infection? fact sheet.

How is amphotericin B used in people with HIV?How is amphotericin B used in people with HIV?

How is amphotericin B used in people with HIV?

The Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Opportunistic Infections in Adults and Adolescents With HIV and/or the Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Opportunistic Infections in Children With and Exposed to HIV include recommendations on the uses of amphotericin B to:

Treat:

• Histoplasmosis
• Cryptococcosis
• Coccidioidomycosis
• Candidiasis, including esophageal candidiasis
• Leishmaniasis, including visceral (affecting the entire body), cutaneous, and mucosal (affecting mucous membranes) leishmaniasis
• Talaromycosis

Prevent:

• Visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis from recurring

The recommended uses may not always be consistent with FDA-approved uses of amphotericin B. See the Adult and Pediatric Opportunistic Infection Guidelines for complete information on recommended uses of amphotericin B in adults and children with HIV. Amphotericin B may have other recommended uses not listed above.

What should I tell my health care provider before receiving amphotericin B?What should I tell my health care provider before receiving amphotericin B?

What should I tell my health care provider before receiving amphotericin B?

Before receiving amphotericin B, tell your health care provider:

• If you are allergic to amphotericin B or any other medicines.
• About any medical conditions you have or have had, including:
  • Kidney or heart problems
  • Electrolyte imbalances
  • Dehydration
  • Weakened immune system (immunocompromised)
• If you are receiving white blood cell transfusions or have ever received radiation treatment.
• About any health conditions that may prevent you from receiving medicine by intravenous infusion.
• If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Talk to your health care provider about the risks and benefits of using amphotericin B during pregnancy. The Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Opportunistic Infections in Adults and Adolescents With HIV may include other recommendations on the use of amphotericin B during pregnancy. Please refer to these guidelines for additional information.
• If you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. For mothers with HIV in the United States, the Guideline recommends speaking with your health care provider to discuss options for feeding your baby. Mothers with suppressed viral load have a less than 1% chance of transmitting HIV to their baby via their own milk. Although most medicines are safe to use while breastfeeding, some medicines should be avoided. Always let your health care provider know about all the medicines and supplements you are using before you start breastfeeding.
• About other prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Amphotericin B may affect the way other medicines or products work, and other medicines or products may affect how amphotericin B works. Ask your health care provider if there are interactions between amphotericin B and the other medicines you take.

How will I receive amphotericin B?How will I receive amphotericin B?

How will I receive amphotericin B?

Amphotericin B is given by intravenous infusion over a period of time. It may be administered by a health care provider in a hospital or clinic. Some people may use amphotericin B at home. If you use amphotericin B at home, your health care provider will teach you how to infuse the medicine. It is important that you use amphotericin B exactly as your health care provider has instructed. If you do not understand how to use amphotericin B, ask your health care provider.

What side effects can amphotericin B cause?What side effects can amphotericin B cause?

What side effects can amphotericin B cause?

Amphotericin B may cause side effects that can be mild or serious. To learn about possible side effects of amphotericin B injection (powder, lyophilized, for solution; desoxycholate) and injection (powder, lyophilized, for solution; liposome), see the FDA drug label or talk to your health care provider or pharmacist. Tell your health care professional if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. Your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some side effects.

You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or online.

How should amphotericin B be stored?How should amphotericin B be stored?

How should amphotericin B be stored?

• Store vials of amphotericin B for injection (desoxycholate) in a refrigerator, between 36°F and 46°F (2°C and 8°C), and protect the vials from light. For instructions on the storage of reconstituted solutions for infusion, please see the drug label.
• Store vials of amphotericin B for injection (liposome) at temperatures up to 77°F (25°C). For instructions on the storage of reconstituted solutions for infusion, please see the drug label.
• Do not use amphotericin B if the original seal over the vial is broken or missing.
• Throw away amphotericin B that is no longer needed or expired (out of date). Follow FDA guidelines on how to safely dispose of unused medicine. For information on disposing of needles and other sharps, please refer to these guidelines or ask your health care provider or pharmacist.
• Keep amphotericin B and all medicines out of reach of children.

Where can I find more information about amphotericin B?Where can I find more information about amphotericin B?

Where can I find more information about amphotericin B?

• Recommendations on the HIV-related uses of amphotericin B, from the Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Opportunistic Infections in Adults and Adolescents With HIV and the Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Opportunistic Infections in Children With and Exposed to HIV.
• This Patient Version drug summary is based on the following FDA label(s): Injection (powder, lyophilized, for solution; amphotericin B desoxycholate); Injection (powder, lyophilized, for solution; amphotericin B liposome).
• The American Hospital Formulary Service (AHFS) Patient Medication Information for amphotericin B injection and amphotericin B liposomal injection available from MedlinePlus.
• Amphotericin B-related research studies, from ClinicalTrials.gov. (The ClinicalTrials.gov search can be modified so that you can get results that better match your interests.)