Isavuconazonium

Isavuconazonium is used to treat serious fungal infections such as invasive aspergillosis (a fungal infection that begins in the lungs and spreads through the bloodstream to other organs) and invasive mucormycosis (a fungal infection that usually begins in the sinuses, brain, or lungs). Isavuconazonium is in a class of medications called azole antifungals. It works by slowing the growth of fungi that cause infection.

🔔 How should this medicine be used?

Isavuconazonium comes as a capsule to take by mouth. It is usually taken with or without food every 8 hours for the first six doses and then once a day. Take isavuconazonium at around the same time(s) every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take isavuconazonium exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Swallow the capsules whole; do not open, chew, dissolve, or crush them.

The length of your treatment depends on your general health, the type of infection you have, and how well you respond to the medication. Continue to take isavuconazonium even if you feel well. Do not stop taking isavuconazonium without talking to your doctor.

Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer’s information for the patient.

🔔 Other uses for this medicine

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

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🔔 What special precautions should I follow?

Before taking isavuconazonium,

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to isavuconazonium, fluconazole (Diflucan), itraconazole (Sporanox, Tolsura), ketoconazole, posaconazole (Noxafil), voriconazole (Vfend), any other medications, or any of the ingredients in isavuconazonium capsules. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.
• tell your doctor if you are taking carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Equetro, Tegretol, others), ketoconazole, phenobarbital, rifampin (Rifadin, Rifamate), ritonavir (Norvir, in Kaletra), or St. John’s wort. Your doctor will probably tell you not to take isavuconazonium if you are taking one or more of these medications.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: atorvastatin (Lipitor, in Caduet), bupropion (Aplenzin, Forfivo XL, Wellbutrin, in Contrave), cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune), digoxin (Digitek, Lanoxicaps, Lanoxin), midazolam, mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept), sirolimus (Rapamune), or tacrolimus (Prograf). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. Many other medications may also interact with isavuconazonium, so be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, even those that do not appear on this list.
• tell your doctor if you or anyone in your family has or has ever had short QT syndrome (condition that increases the risk of irregular heartbeat, dizziness, fainting, or sudden death). Your doctor will probably tell you not to take isavuconazonium.
• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had an irregular heart beat, low blood levels of potassium, other heart problems, or liver problems.
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. You should use birth control to prevent pregnancy during your treatment with isavuconazonium and for 28 days after your final dose. Talk to your doctor about types of birth control that will work for you. If you become pregnant while taking isavuconazonium, call your doctor. Isavuconazonium may harm the fetus.
• tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding.

🔔 What special dietary instructions should I follow?

Talk to your doctor about eating grapefruit and drinking grapefruit juice while taking this medication.

🔔 What should I do if I forget a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

🔔 What side effects can this medication cause?

Isavuconazonium may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• diarrhea
• constipation
• headache
• back pain
• cough
• difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
• anxiety
• agitation
• confusion
• decreased appetite

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately or get emergency medical treatment:

• rash; itching; hives; swelling of your face, mouth, tongue, or throat; chest pain; fast heartbeat; dizziness or fainting; sweating; or difficulty breathing or swallowing
• peeling or blistering skin
• yellowing of the skin or eyes, pain in the upper right part of the stomach, nausea, vomiting, itching, extreme tiredness, or flu-like symptoms
• irregular heartbeat
• swelling of the hands, feet, arms or legs

Isavuconazonium may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online (http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch) or by phone (1-800-332-1088).

🔔 What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication?

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Isavuconazonium comes in blister packaging and each blister section has two pockets. The left pocket has a desiccant (small packet that contains a substance that absorbs moisture to keep the medication dry) and the right pocket has the medication. Only open the isavuconazonium pocket and leave the desiccant in the packaging. Do not remove isavuconazonium from the original packaging until you are ready to take your dose. Do not put isavuconazonium in pill boxes or pill organizers. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom).

Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist or contact your local garbage/recycling department to learn about take-back programs in your community. See the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medicines website (http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p) for more information if you do not have access to a take-back program.

It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and young children can open them easily. To protect young children from poisoning, always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location – one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach. http://www.upandaway.org

🔔 In case of emergency/overdose

In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at 1-800-222-1222. Information is also available online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can’t be awakened, immediately call emergency services at 911.

Symptoms of overdose may include the following:

• headache
• dizziness
• pain, burning, or tingling in the hands or feet
• drowsiness
• difficulty focusing
• change in sense of taste
• dry mouth
• numbness in the mouth
• diarrhea
• vomiting
• sudden reddening of the face, neck, or upper chest
• anxiety
• restlessness
• pounding or fast heartbeat
• sensitivity of the eyes to light
• joint pain

🔔 What other information should I know?

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor may order certain lab tests to check your body’s response to isavuconazonium.

It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.