Descripción
Introduction
What VFEND is used for?
It is used for the treatment of
- Invasive aspergillosis (a type of fungal infection due to Aspergillus sp)
- Candidaemia (another type of fungal infection due to Candida sp) in non-neutropenic patients (patients without abnormally low white blood cells count),
- Serious invasive Candida species infections when the fungus is resistant to fluconazole
- Serious fungal infections caused by Scedosporium species or Fusarium species (two different species of fungi)
Warning & Precautions
Talk to Doctor
Talk to your doctor before you take this medicine, if you:
- Are allergic to this medicine
- Are suffering from liver disease
- Have cardiomyopathy, irregular heartbeat, slow heart rate or an abnormality of electrocardiogram (ECG)
VFEND contains lactose If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, tell your doctor before taking this medicine.
Pregnancy & Breast Feeding
- VFEND must not be used during pregnancy, unless indicated by your doctor. Effective contraception must be used in women of childbearing potential
- If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor for advice before taking this medicine
Children & Adolescents
- VFEND should not be given to children younger than 2 years of age
Driving & Using Machines
- VFEND may cause blurring of vision or uncomfortable sensitivity to light. While affected, do not drive or operate any tools or machines
Interactions
Tell your doctor if you are taking,
- Rifabutin (used for treating tuberculosis)
- Phenytoin (used to treat epilepsy)
- Warfarin and other anticoagulants (e.g., phenprocoumon, acenocoumarol, used to slow down clotting of the blood)
- Ciclosporin (used in transplant patients)
- Tacrolimus (used in transplant patients)
- Sulfonylureas (e.g., tolbutamide, glipizide, and glyburide)
- Statins (e.g., atorvastatin, simvastatin)
- Benzodiazepines such as midazolam, triazolam (used for severe insomnia and stress)
- Omeprazole (used for treating ulcers)
- Methadone (used to treat heroin addiction)
- Oxycodone and other long-acting opiates such as hydrocodone (used for moderate to severe pain)
- Ibuprofen, diclofenac (used for treating pain and inflammation)
- Fluconazole (used for fungal infections)
- Everolimus (used for treating advanced kidney cancer and in transplant patients)
- Ritonavir (used for treating HIV)
How to Use
- Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you
- Your doctor will determine your dose depending on your weight and the type of infection you have
If you take more VFEND
- If you take more tablets than prescribed you must seek medical advice or go to the nearest hospital casualty department immediately
If you forget to take VFEND
- It is important to take your VFEND regularly at the same time each day
- If you forget to take one dose, take your next dose when it is due
- Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose
If you stop taking VFEND
- Continue taking VFEND until your doctor tells you to stop
- Do not stop treatment early because your infection may not be cured
Side Effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them
Serious
- Rash
- Jaundice
- Pancreatitis
- Bleeding in the eye
Common
- Inflammation of the sinuses, inflammation of the gums, chills, weakness
- Low blood cell count
- Low blood sugar, low blood potassium, low sodium in the blood
- Anxiety, depression, confusion, agitation, inability to sleep, hallucinations
- Seizures, tremors or uncontrolled muscle movements, tingling or abnormal skin sensations, increase in muscle tone, sleepiness, dizziness
- Heart rhythm problems including very fast heartbeat, very slow heartbeat, fainting
- Low blood pressure, inflammation of a vein (which may be associated with the formation of a blood clot)
- Acute breathing difficulty, chest pain, swelling of the face (mouth, lips and around eyes), fluid accumulation in the lungs
- Constipation, indigestion
- Jaundice, inflammation of the liver and liver injury
- Skin rashes which may lead to severe blistering and peeling of the skin characterized by a flat, red area on the skin that is covered with small confluent bumps, redness of the skin
- Itchiness
- Hair loss
- Back pain
- Kidney failure, blood in the urine, changes in kidney function tests
Uncommon
- Flu-like symptoms, irritation and inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract causing antibiotic associated diarrhoea, inflammation of the lymphatic vessels
- Inflammation of the thin tissue that lines the inner wall of the abdomen and covers the abdominal organ
- Enlarged lymph glands (sometimes painful), failure of blood marrow, increased eosinophil
- Depressed function of the adrenal gland, underactive thyroid gland
- Abnormal brain function, parkinson-like symptoms, nerve injury resulting in numbness, pain, tingling or burning in the hands or feet
- Problems with balance or coordination
- Swelling of the brain
- Double vision, serious conditions of the eye including: pain and inflammation of the eyes and eyelids, abnormal eye movement, damage to the optic nerve resulting in vision impairment, optic disc swelling
- Decreased sensitivity to touch
- Abnormal sense of taste
- Hearing difficulties, ringing in the ears, vertigo
- Inflammation of certain internal organs- pancreas and duodenum, swelling and inflammation of the tongue
- Enlarged liver, liver failure, gallbladder disease, gallstones
- Joint inflammation, inflammation of the veins under the skin (which may be associated with the formation of a blood clot)
- Inflammation of the kidney, proteins in the urine, damage to the kidney
- Very fast heart rate or skipped heartbeats, sometimes with erratic electrical impulses
- Abnormal electrocardiogram
- Blood cholesterol increased, blood urea increased
- Allergic skin reactions (sometimes severe), including life-threatening skin condition that causes painful blisters and sores of the skin and mucous membranes, especially in the mouth, inflammation of the skin, hives, sunburn or severe skin reaction following exposure to light or sun, skin redness and irritation, red or purple discoloration of the skin which may be caused by low platelet count, eczema
- Infusion site reaction
- Allergic reaction or exaggerated immune response
Rare
- Overactive thyroid gland
- Deterioration of brain function that is a serious complication of liver disease
- Loss of most fibres in the optic nerve, clouding of the cornea, involuntary movement of the eye
- Bullous photosensitivity
- A disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks part of the peripheral nervous system
- Heart rhythm or conduction problems (sometimes life threatening)
- Life threatening allergic reaction
- Disorder of blood clotting system
- Small dry scaly skin patches, sometimes thick with spikes or ‘horns’
More Information
Storage
- Keep this medicine out of reach of children
- Store at room temperature (15-25°C)
- Do not use this medicine after the expiry date
Disclaimer:
The contents of this website are for informational purposes only and not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
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