Posaconazole
About
Posaconazole is in a class of medications called azole antifungals. It is used to prevent and treat fungal infections when other antifungal medicines have not worked, or you have had to stop taking them. It is also indicated for preventing invasive Aspergillus and Candida infections in patients at high risk of developing these infections due to being severely immunocompromised, such as hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients with graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) or those with hematologic malignancies with prolonged neutropenia from chemotherapy.
Posaconazole contains a medicine called posaconazole. It is a triazole antifungal agent and exerts its antifungal activity through the blockage of certain enzymes (P-450 dependent enzyme, sterol 14α-demethylase). This leads to inhibiting the synthesis of ergosterol, a key component of the fungal cell membrane, and the accumulation of methylated sterol precursors. This results in the inhibition of fungal cell growth and cell death. Thus, it treats infections.
Take Posaconazole as prescribed by your doctor. You are advised to take Posaconazole for as long as your doctor has prescribed it based on your medical condition. In some cases, you may experience diarrhoea, nausea, fever, vomiting, headache, coughing and low potassium levels in the blood. Most of these side effects of Posaconazole do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects persist or worsen, please consult your doctor.
Inform your doctor if you are allergic or hypersensitive to any component present in Posaconazole or if you are pregnant, suspect you are pregnant, plan to have a baby or are breastfeeding; your doctor will prescribe Posaconazole only if the benefits outweigh the risk. Before taking the Posaconazole, inform your doctor about your medical history and ongoing therapies to rule out any potential adverse effects or interactions.
Uses of Posaconazole
Medicinal Benefits
Posaconazole is an antifungal medication present in Posaconazole. It is effective in treating fungal infections in adults. It is also indicated for preventing invasive Aspergillus and Candida infections in patients who are severely immunocompromised and at high risk of developing these infections, such as hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients with graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) or those with hematologic malignancies with prolonged neutropenia from chemotherapy.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Posaconazole
- Diarrhoea
- Nausea
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Headache
- Coughing
- Low potassium levels in the blood
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
Inform your doctor if you are allergic or hypersensitive to any component present in Posaconazole or if you are pregnant, suspect you are pregnant, plan to have a baby or are breastfeeding; your doctor will prescribe Posaconazole only if the benefits outweigh the risk. Before taking the Posaconazole, inform your doctor about your medical history and ongoing therapies to rule out any potential adverse effects or interactions. And also, let your doctor know before prescribing Posaconazole if you have Arrhythmias and QTc Prolongation, liver problems, or low potassium, magnesium, or calcium levels in your blood.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions: Posaconazole may interact with various drugs, including terfenadine (used to treat allergies), astemizole (used to treat allergies), cisapride (used to treat stomach problems), pimozide (used to treat symptoms of Tourette's and mental illness), halofantrine (used to treat malaria), and quinidine (used to treat abnormal heart rhythms).
Drug-Food Interactions: There are no studies indicating food interactions with Posaconazole. However, it is advised to take non-starchy vegetables and gluten-free foods and limit alcohol and caffeine intake.
Drug-Disease Interactions: Tell your doctor before taking Posaconazole if you have a medical history of allergic reactions to medicines, heart diseases, liver or kidney problems, blood disorders and low levels of magnesium and potassium.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionIt is unknown whether Posaconazole alters the ability to drive, so do not drive or operate machinery if you experience any symptoms affecting your ability to concentrate and react.
Pregnancy
cautionPosaconazole should not be used when pregnancy unless clearly necessary. So, inform your doctor if you are pregnant or suspect pregnancy. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and potential risks before prescribing Posaconazole.
Breast Feeding
cautionThere is no substantial research yet on using Posaconazole in breastfeeding/nursing mothers. Inform your doctor if you are a nursing mother before taking Posaconazole; your doctor will decide whether Posaconazole can be taken by breastfeeding mothers.
Driving
cautionIt is unknown whether Posaconazole alters the ability to drive, so do not drive or operate machinery if you experience any symptoms affecting your ability to concentrate and react.
Liver
cautionInform your doctor before receiving the Posaconazole if you have a liver impairment/disorder history. Your doctor will prescribe only if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Kidney
cautionInform your doctor before receiving the Posaconazole if you have a kidney impairment/disorder history. Your doctor will prescribe only if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Children
safe if prescribedYour doctor will weigh the benefits and potential risks before prescribing Posaconazole.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Take the medication as directed by the doctor and at regular intervals if you take Posaconazole for more than one day.
- Do not use other over-the-counter medications, herbal or vitamin supplements without informing your pharmacist or doctor when you take Posaconazole.
- Continue taking your normal regular diet unless your doctor prescribes a specific diet.
- It is advisable to follow a candida diet during yeast infections. This diet excludes sugar, gluten, certain dairy products, alcohol and switches to low-sugar fruits, non-starchy vegetables, and gluten-free foods.
- A very high sugar or high-carbohydrate diet may increase the count of Candida in some people. It is better to avoid or limit alcohol and caffeine intake during Posaconazole treatment to enhance a healthy lifestyle practice.
Special Advise
- Regular blood tests are recommended before and while taking Posaconazole to monitor liver functioning, especially if you have any liver problems.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Fungal infection: Fungal infection occurs when a fungus enters, infects, and multiplies in the body. Fungi can live in water, soil, air, and plants. Fungi affect any body part, including the mouth, throat, oesophagus, lungs, bladder, genital area, and blood. Mild fungal skin infections are common and can cause rashes. Fungal infections affecting body organs like the lungs can cause flu or tuberculosis. Some fungal diseases like cryptococcal meningitis and blood infections can be fatal. A few common fungal infections are yeast infections that affect the genital area, oesophagus, and urinary tract caused by Candida.
Invasive aspergillosis: Invasive aspergillosis occurs when Aspergillus causes serious infection and usually affects people with weakened immune systems, such as those who have had an organ transplant or a stem cell transplant. Invasive aspergillosis most commonly affects the lungs but can also spread to other body parts.
FAQs
Posaconazole contains a medicine called posaconazole. It is a triazole antifungal agent and exerts its antifungal activity through the blockage of certain enzymes (P-450 dependent enzyme, sterol 14α-demethylase). This leads to inhibiting the synthesis of ergosterol, a key component of the fungal cell membrane, and the accumulation of methylated sterol precursors. This results in inhibiting fungal cell growth and, ultimately, cell death. Thus, it treats infections.
Posaconazole is not recommended for coadministration with anticoagulants, So if you are under anticoagulant therapy, inform your doctor before prescribing Posaconazole.
If you are allergic to posaconazole or similar antifungals such as fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole, or voriconazole, you should not use it. When combined with certain medications, posaconazole can have unfavourable or dangerous side effects.
Like all medicines, this medicine may cause side effects such as diarrhoea, nausea, fever, vomiting, headache, coughing and low potassium levels in the blood, although not everybody gets them. Most of these side effects of Posaconazole do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects persist or worsen, please consult your doctor.
Take Posaconazole as prescribed by your doctor. You are advised to take Posaconazole for as long as your doctor has prescribed it for you based on your medical condition.
