Injections of amphotericin B may have harmful adverse effects. It should only be used in patients with a healthy immune system (the body’s natural defence against infection) to treat potentially fatal fungal infections and not to treat less severe fungal infections of the mouth, throat, or vagina.

Discuss the dangers of obtaining an injection of amphotericin B with your doctor.

Injections of amphotericin B are used to treat severe and potentially fatal fungal infections. Amphotericin B injection belongs to the group of drugs known as antifungals. It functions by inhibiting the development of infection-causing fungus.

Amphotericin B injection is sold as a solid powder cake that must be dissolved into a solution before a nurse or doctor may administer it intravenously (into a vein). Amphotericin B injection is typically slowly infused (administered) intravenously once each day over a period of 2 to 6 hours. To determine your tolerance for the medicine, you might receive a test dosage 20 to 30 minutes before to your first dose. Your general health, how well you handle the drug, and the kind of infection you have will all affect how long it takes you to get better.

As you receive an injection of amphotericin B, you could have a response. These responses often occur one to three hours after you begin your infusion and get worse with the first few doses. To lessen these adverse effects, your doctor may recommend additional drugs. If you suffer any of the following symptoms after receiving an amphotericin B injection: fever, chills, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, breathing issues, or headache, call your doctor right once.

You may receive amphotericin B injection in a hospital or you may use the medication at home. If you will be using amphotericin B injection at home, your healthcare provider will show you how to infuse the medication. Be sure that you understand these directions, and ask your healthcare provider if you have any questions. Ask your healthcare provider what to do if you have any problems infusing amphotericin B injection.

If your symptoms do not improve or get worse while receiving amphotericin B, tell your doctor. If you still have symptoms of infection after you finish amphotericin B injection, tell your doctor.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Before receiving amphotericin B injection,

• If you have an allergy to amphotericin B, any other drugs, or any of the chemicals in amphotericin B injection, let your doctor and pharmacist know right away. Request a list of the components from your pharmacist.
• Inform your doctor and pharmacist about any additional prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products you are now taking or intend to use. Incorporate any of the following: Antifungal medications include clotrimazole, fluconazole (Diflucan), itraconazole (Onmel, Sporanox), ketoconazole (Extina, Nizoral, Xolegel), and miconazole (Oravig, Monistat); aminoglycoside antibiotics such amikacin, gentamicin, or tobramycin (Bethkis, Kitabis Pak, Tobi); digoxin (Lanoxin), flucytosine (Ancobon), corticotropin (H.P. Acthar Gel), cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune), pentamidine (Nebupent, Pentam), oral steroids such dexamethasone, methylprednisolone (Medrol), and prednisone, as well as cancer treatments like nitrogen mustard (Rayos). Your physician might need to adjust the dosage of your drugs or keep a close eye on you for side effects.
• If you are undergoing leukocyte (white blood cell) transfusions, let your doctor know.
• If you have renal illness now or ever have, let your doctor know.
• Inform your doctor if you are expecting, intend to get pregnant, or are nursing a baby. Call your doctor if you conceive while having an injection of amphotericin B. While receiving an injection of amphotericin B, do not breastfeed.
• Inform the surgeon or dentist that you are receiving an injection of amphotericin B if you are having surgery, including dental surgery.

Keep eating normally unless your doctor instructs you otherwise.

Injections of amphotericin B may have adverse effects. If any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away, let your doctor know right once:

• Stomach cramps or discomfort
• Heartburn
• Diarrhea
• Loss of weight
• Joint, muscle, or bone discomfort
• Not enough energy
• At the injection site, there is redness or swelling
• Light skin
• Breathing difficulty
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Having cold hands and feet

Some adverse effects can be very harmful. Call your doctor right away if you encounter any of these symptoms, or seek emergency care:

• Rash
• Hives or blisters
• Flushing
• Wheezing
• Having trouble breathing
• Itching
• The skin or eyes turning yellow
• Less urinations

Other negative effects of amphotericin B injection are possible. If you have any strange side effects while taking this medicine, call your doctor right away.

You or your doctor can submit a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting programme online or by phone if you have a serious side event (1-800-332-1088).

Call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 in the event of an overdose. Additionally, information can be found online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. Call 911 right once if the person has collapsed, experienced a seizure, is having difficulty breathing, or cannot be roused.

Overdose symptoms could include:

• Chest pain
• Breathing difficulty
• Dizziness
• Consciousness loss
• A hammering, rapid, or inconsistent heartbeat

Keep all of your appointments with your physician and the lab. Throughout your therapy, your doctor may request a few blood tests to monitor how your body is reacting to the amphotericin B injection.

Do not share your medication with anybody else. Any queries you may have regarding medication refills should be directed to your pharmacist.

You should keep a written record of every medication you take, including any over-the-counter (OTC) items, prescription drugs, and dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals. This list should be brought with you whenever you see a doctor or are admitted to the hospital. You should always have this information with you in case of emergencies.