Posaconazole (Noxafil) infusion is an azole antifungal. It's used to treat serious Aspergillus fungal infections in adults and children ages 13 years and older. It's also used to prevent Candida and Aspergillus infections (prophylaxis) in adults and children ages 2 years and older with weakened immune systems. Posaconazole (Noxafil) infusion is given as an infusion into the veins, typically twice a day on the first day and then once a day thereafter. This medication is available under the brand name Noxafil and as a lower-cost generic. Common side effects include diarrhea, nausea, and abnormal liver tests.
Prevention of serious fungal infections caused by Candida and Aspergillus
Treatment of serious Aspergillus infection
Posaconazole (Noxafil) infusion is an azole antifungal. It works by damaging the protective outer layer of the fungus causing your infection.
Source: DailyMed
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
Abdominal or stomach pain
black, tarry stools
bloody nose
blurred vision
body aches or pain
confusion
difficult or labored breathing
dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
drowsiness
fever or chills
fruit-like breath odor
heavy non-menstrual vaginal bleeding
increased thirst or urination
irregular heartbeats
loss of voice
muscle pain, spasms, or twitching
nausea or vomiting
numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, lips, mouth, or fingertips
painful cold sores or blisters on the lips, nose, eyes, or genitals
painful or difficult urination
pounding in the ears
slow or fast heartbeat
small red or purple spots on the skin
sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips, tongue, or inside the mouth
sweating
tender, swollen glands in the neck
tightness in the chest
trembling
trouble swallowing
unexplained weight loss
yellow eyes or skin
Less common
Fainting
irregular heartbeat, recurrent
Incidence not known
change in mental status
chest pain or discomfort
darkening of the skin
itching or skin rash
mental depression
seizures
sudden shortness of breath or troubled breathing
swelling of the eyes or eyelids
swelling of the face, fingers, feet, or lower legs
weakness
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
Acid or sour stomach
back pain
belching
difficulty having a bowel movement (stool)
muscle stiffness
pain in the joints
trouble sleeping
Less common
Bad, unusual, or unpleasant (after) taste
change in taste
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Can be used in adults and children
Once-daily dosing after the first day
A good option for people who can't take medications by mouth
Many interactions with other medications
Might not be a good option for people with moderate or severe kidney problems
Might not be safe during pregnancy
You'll typically receive posaconazole (Noxafil) infusion in a hospital setting or at home. Don't stop taking the medication early even if you feel better since this can put you at risk for an infection that's harder to treat.
If you miss your dose of posaconazole (Noxafil) infusion, take it as soon as possible. If it's almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and return to your usual dosing schedule. Call your prescriber and let them know if you miss any doses.
Posaconazole (Noxafil) infusion interacts with many medications, including alprazolam (Xanax), simvastatin (Zocor), and phenytoin (Dilantin). This isn't a complete list of all drug interactions, so please speak with your healthcare professional before starting posaconazole (Noxafil) infusion. Be sure to tell them about any over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and herbal products you take.
If you're receiving posaconazole (Noxafil) infusion at home, your care team might ask you to store it there. Keep posaconazole (Noxafil) infusion vials in the refrigerator until you're ready for a dose. The vials must be mixed with a special type of solution before you can use them.
Once mixed, posaconazole (Noxafil) infusion can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Throw away any medication that isn't used after you get your dose, and don't try to save any medication for later use.
Posaconazole (Noxafil) infusion can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Risk factors: History of abnormal heart rhythm | Taking other medications that cause heart rhythm problem | Taking medications that cause posaconazole (Noxafil) infusion to build up in your body
Posaconazole (Noxafil) infusion can cause a serious heart rhythm problem called QT prolongation. The risk is higher for people who already have heart rhythm problems or are taking medications that also have a risk of causing heart rhythm problems. Let your healthcare team know about all medications and supplements you're taking so they can check if you're at higher risk for QT prolongation.
Posaconazole (Noxafil) infusion can cause changes to electrolytes levels in your body like potassium, magnesium, and calcium. Usually, this change is minor and can be corrected with supplements. But if these levels drop too low, they can cause problems with your heart. Make sure you get any blood tests ordered by your prescriber done on time while taking posaconazole (Noxafil) infusion. This will help them catch problems earlier.
Risk factors: History of liver problems
Posaconazole (Noxafil) infusion can cause liver problems. Most of the time, you won't experience any symptoms. But your healthcare team might note higher liver enzyme levels on blood work that checks your liver health. Typically, your liver enzyme levels should go back to the normal range once you stop receiving posaconazole (Noxafil) infusion. But rarely, people have experienced serious liver problems that were life-threatening. As a precaution, your healthcare team might order blood work regularly during treatment to check your liver health. If there are signs of liver problems, they might ask you to stop taking posaconazole (Noxafil) infusion. Get medical help right away if you feel symptoms of serious liver problems, such as unexplained stomach pain, nausea, or vomiting, dark urine, pale stools, or yellowing of your skin or eyes.
Risk factors: Taking calcineurin inhibitors
Posaconazole (Noxafil) infusion interacts with medications known as calcineurin inhibitors, which are usually taken by people who've had organ transplants or have certain immune conditions. Examples include cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral) and tacrolimus (Prograf). Posaconazole (Noxafil) infusion can cause these medications to build up in your body. This can cause serious problems like brain damage (leukoencephalopathy) and kidney damage, which can be life-threatening. Be sure to tell your care team all the medications you take before starting posaconazole (Noxafil) infusion so they can help you check for interactions.
Posaconazole (Noxafil) infusion interacts with midazolam (Seizalam), a medication used for seizures and anesthesia. Posaconazole (Noxafil) infusion causes midazolam to build up in your body, making it more likely you'll have side effects or have trouble waking up. This interaction is life-threatening, so you shouldn't take these two medications together. Make sure you tell your prescriber if you take midazolam before starting posaconazole (Noxafil) infusion. If you need to have any surgical procedures done while taking posaconazole (Noxafil) infusion, be sure to tell your surgeon you are taking this medication so they can pick anesthesia that won't interact with posaconazole (Noxafil) infusion.
Posaconazole (Noxafil) infusion interacts with a cancer medication called vincristine. Taking these medications together can cause seizures, nerve damage, or bowel blockages. Make sure you tell the healthcare professional prescribing posaconazole (Noxafil) infusion if you take any cancer medications. Your healthcare team might only ask you to take this combination if there are no safer alternative treatments available. If so, they'll go over the risks and benefits of treatment and monitor you closely for side effects.
Posaconazole (Noxafil) infusion interacts with a medication called Venclexta (venetoclax). Taking these medications together can raise the risk of life-threatening side effects, such as tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) and serious infections. Review of list of your current medications with your prescriber before taking posaconazole (Noxafil) infusion. Your healthcare team can help you check for interactions and talk with you about alternative options if needed.
Treatment of serious Aspergillus infection:
Adults and children ages 13 years and older: The typical dose is 300 mg infused into the vein twice a day for the first day, followed by 300 mg once a day thereafter.
Prevention of serious Candida and Aspergillus infections:
Adults: The typical dose is 300 mg infused into the vein twice a day for the first day, followed by 300 mg once a day thereafter.
Children ages 2 to 17 years old: The typical dose is 6 mg/kg of body weight (up to 300 mg) infused into the vein on the first day, followed by 6 mg/kg (up to 300 mg) once a day thereafter.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Allergic to azole antifungals
Taking posaconazole (Noxafil) infusion together with sirolumus (Rapamune)
Taking posaconazole (Noxafil) infusion with certain medications that can cause QT prolongation (e.g., pimozide, quinidine)
Taking posaconazole (Noxafil) infusion with certain statin medications (e.g., atorvastatin (Lipitor), lovastatin, and simvastatin (Zocor))
Taking posaconazole (Noxafil) infusion with ergot alkaloids (e.g., ergotamine and dihydroergotamine)
Taking posaconazole (Noxafil) infusion with Venclexta (venetoclax)
Prevention of serious fungal infections caused by Candida and Aspergillus
Treatment of serious Aspergillus infection
Candidemia (candidiasis infection of the bloodstream)
Candidiasis infections that have spread to deep tissue areas, including stomach and wounds
Scedosporiosis and fusariosis fungal infections in people who can't take, or didn't respond well, to other treatment
Fungal infections in people with a fever and a low number of white blood cells
Cryptococcal meningitis in people with HIV
People with severe fungal infections caused by Aspergillus, Candida, or Cryptococcus who have already tried other antifungals or cannot take other antifungals
Black fever (visceral leishmaniasis)
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Adeyinka, A., et al. (2024). Tumor lysis syndrome. StatPearls.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Aspergillosis basics.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Risk factors for candidiasis.
Gland Pharma Limited. (2024). Posaconazole injection, solution [package insert]. DailyMed.
MedlinePlus. (2023). Posaconazole injection.
MedlinePlus. (2024). Leukoencephalopathy.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. (2017). Posaconazole. LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury.
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