Oral posaconazole (Noxafil) is an azole antifungal. It's taken by mouth to prevent and treat serious Aspergillus and Candida fungal infections in adults and children. Posaconazole (Noxafil) is available as an oral suspension and tablet (both brand name and generic), as well as powder for oral suspension (brand only). Posaconazole (Noxafil) is also available as an intravenous infusion that's typically given in a hospital setting by a healthcare professional. The dosing depends on what condition you're taking it to treat, your age, and which formulation you're taking. Potential side effects include diarrhea, nausea, and abnormal liver tests.
Prevention of serious fungal infections caused by Candida and Aspergillus
Treatment of serious Aspergillus infection - tablets only
Treatment of oral thrush of the mouth and throat - liquid suspension only
Posaconazole (Noxafil) 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.
Available as a tablet and oral liquid
Some formulations available as a lower-cost generic
Possible option when other antifungals aren't working for oral thrush
Some forms must be taken multiple times per day
Can interact with many medications
Might not be a good option during pregnancy
Continue to take posaconazole (Noxafil) even if you start to feel better. Stopping too early can cause your infection to come back and be harder to treat.
Posaconazole (Noxafil) 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). Be sure to tell them about any over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and herbal products you take.
Tell your care team if you experience severe diarrhea or vomiting while taking posaconazole (Noxafil). These might be signs that posaconazole (Noxafil) isn't working well to treat your infection and that you need more medical attention.
Additional tips for taking the tablets:
You can take posaconazole (Noxafil) tablets with or without food.
Swallow the tablets whole and don't crush, break, or chew them because this could change how the medication works in your body.
Store the tablets at room temperature.
Additional tips for the oral suspension:
Shake posaconazole (Noxafil) oral suspension well each time before taking a dose.
Make sure to take posaconazole (Noxafil) oral suspension at the same time as or within 20 minutes of a full meal. This will help the medication to be absorbed by your body and work better. If you can't eat a full meal, you can take posaconazole (Noxafil) with a nutritional supplement drink (Boost, Ensure, etc.) or an acidic carbonated beverage like ginger ale.
Only use the dosing spoon that comes with posaconazole (Noxafil) oral suspension and rinse it after each use. Don't use household spoons because this can cause you to take or give the wrong dose.
Store posaconazole (Noxafil) oral suspension at room temperature.
Additional tips for taking Noxafil PowderMix for delayed-release oral suspension:
Make sure to read the Instructions for Use before using Noxafil (posaconazole) PowderMix for oral suspension and keep them handy each time you mix and give the medication.
Don't open the Noxafil (posaconazole) PowderMix foil packet until you're ready to use it.
Only use the syringe that comes with the medication to prepare and give Noxafil (posaconazole) PowderMix.
Once you mix Noxafil (posaconazole) PowderMix, give the dose within 1 hour and with food.
Call your child's prescriber if they spit some of the dose out or don't take the full dose.
Posaconazole (Noxafil) 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.
Call for medical help and let your healthcare team know right away if you have severe diarrhea or vomiting. These might be signs that posaconazole (Noxafil) isn't working well to treat your fungal infection. If so, you'll need more medical attention immediately from your care team.
Risk factors: History of liver problems
Posaconazole (Noxafil) 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 taking posaconazole (Noxafil). 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). 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: History of abnormal heart rhythm | Taking other medications that cause heart rhythm problem | Taking medications that cause posaconazole (Noxafil) to build up in your body
Posaconazole (Noxafil) 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) 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). This will help them catch problems earlier.
Posaconazole (Noxafil) is known to interact with many medications, including over-the-counter vitamins and herbals. Some of these interactions can be dangerous or life-threatening. Make sure to tell both your healthcare team about all medications and over-the-counter products you are taking before you start posaconazole (Noxafil), even if you only take them once in a while or as needed.
Risk factors: Taking calcineurin-inhibitors
Posaconazole (Noxafil) interacts with medications known as calcineurin inhibitors, which are usually taken by people who have had organ transplants or have certain immune conditions. Examples include cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral) and tacrolimus (Prograf). Posaconazole (Noxafil) 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) so they can help you check for interactions.
Posaconazole (Noxafil) interacts with midazolam (Seizalam), a medication used for seizures and anesthesia. Posaconazole (Noxafil) 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). If you need to have any surgical procedures done while taking posaconazole (Noxafil), be sure to tell your surgeon you are taking this medication so they can pick anesthesia that won't interact with posaconazole (Noxafil).
Posaconazole (Noxafil) 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) 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) 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). Your healthcare team can help you check for interactions and talk with you about alternative options if needed.
Noxafil PowderMix for delayed-release oral suspension contains sorbitol, which can cause life-threatening problems in people with hereditary fructose intolerance (HFI). Some problems include dangerously low blood sugar levels, lactic acidosis, and liver failure. Tell your prescriber if you have a history of HFI so they can prescribe the safest formulation of posaconazole (Noxafil) for you.
Treatment of serious Aspergillus infection:
Delayed-release tablets:
Adults and children ages 13 to 17 years old: The typical dose is 300 mg by mouth twice a day on Day 1, followed by 300 mg once a day starting on Day 2 for 6-12 weeks.
Treatment of thrush infection in the mouth and throat:
Oral suspension: Each 1 mL of solution contains 40 mg of posaconzole
Adult and children ages 13 to 17 years old: The typical dose is 100 mg by mouth twice a day on Day 1, followed by 100 mg once a day for 13 days.
Treatment of thrush infection in the mouth and throat not responding to other treatments:
Oral suspension: Each 1 mL of solution contains 40 mg of posaconzole
Adults and children ages 13 to 17 years old: The typical dose is 400 mg by mouth twice a day. Your prescriber will determine how long you'll need to take this medication based on your response.
Prevention of serious Candida and Aspergillus infections:
Delayed-release tablets:
Adults and children ages 2 to 17 years old (who weigh at least 40 kg): The typical dose is 300 mg by mouth twice a day on Day 1, followed by 300 mg once a day starting on Day 2. Your prescriber will determine how long you'll need to take the medication based on your risk for getting an infection.
Oral suspension: Each 1 mL of solution contains 40 mg of posaconzole
Adult and children ages 13 to 17 years old: The typical dose is 200 mg by mouth 3 times a day. Your prescriber will determine how long you'll need to take the medication based on your risk for getting an infection.
Powder for delayed-release oral suspension: Each packet contains 300 mg of posaconzole
Children ages 2 to 17 years old (who weigh 10 kg to 40 kg): Your child's prescriber will calculate the dose based on your child's body weight. The dose is usually given twice a day on Day 1, followed by once a day starting on Day 2. Your child's prescriber will determine how long they'll need to take this medication based on their risk of infection.
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) together with sirolumus (Rapamune)
Taking posaconazole (Noxafil) with certain medications that can cause QT prolongation (e.g., pimozide, quinidine)
Taking posaconazole (Noxafil) with certain statin medications (e.g., atorvastatin (Lipitor), lovastatin, and simvastatin (Zocor))
Taking posaconazole (Noxafil) with ergot alkaloids (e.g., ergotamine and dihydroergotamine)
Taking posaconazole (Noxafil) with Venclexta (venetoclax)
Hereditary fructose intolerance (Noxafil Powder Mix for delayed-release oral suspension only)
Prevention of serious fungal infections caused by Candida and Aspergillus
Treatment of serious Aspergillus infection - tablets only
Treatment of oral thrush of the mouth and throat - liquid suspension only
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
Oral thrush of the mouth and throat (oral suspension only)
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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.
MedlinePlus. (2011). Hereditary fructose intolerance.
MedlinePlus. (2024). Leukoencephalopathy. MedlinePlus.
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC. (2024). Noxafil- posaconazole suspension; Noxafil- posaconazole tablet, coated; Noxafil- posaconazole solution; Noxafil- posaconazole powder, for suspension [package insert]. DailyMed.
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