Caspofungin

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Caspofungin Brand Name– Cancidas

What is Caspofungin

Caspofungin is an intravenous echinocandin antifungal agent that is used for the treatment of invasive aspergillosis that is refractory to or intolerant of other therapies, esophageal candidiasis, candidemia, and for empiric treatment of presumed fungal infections in febrile neutropenia.

Common adverse events reported with caspofungin include fever and infusion-related toxicity.

Caspofungin has shown activity against Candida species and in regions of active cell growth of the hyphae of Aspergillus fumigatus.

Caspofungin has been shown to be active both in vitro and in clinical infections against most strains of Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus terreus, Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida guilliermondii, Candida krusei, Candida parapsilosis, and Candida tropicalis. Caspofungin was FDA-approved in January 2001.

Indications

1. aspergillosis
2. aspergillosis prophylaxis
3. Aspergillus flavus
4. Aspergillus fumigatus
5. Aspergillus niger
6. Aspergillus sp.
7. Aspergillus terreus
8. bone and joint infections
9. Candida albicans
10. Candida glabrata
11. Candida guilliermondii
12. Candida krusei
13. Candida lusitaniae
14. Candida parapsilosis
15. Candida sp.
16. Candida tropicalis
17. candidemia
18. candidiasis
19. candidiasis prophylaxis
20. endocarditis
21. esophageal candidiasis
22. febrile neutropenia
23. infectious arthritis
24. intraabdominal abscess
25. intraabdominal infections
26. oropharyngeal candidiasis (thrush)
27. osteomyelitis
28. peritonitis
29. Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP)
30. pneumonia

Side Effects

1. abdominal pain
2. anaphylactoid reactions
3. anemia
4. angioedema
5. anorexia
6. anxiety
7. arrhythmia exacerbation
8. arthralgia
9. asthenia
10. atrial fibrillation
11. back pain
12. bradycardia
13. bronchospasm
14. cardiac arrest
15. chills
16. coagulopathy
17. confusion
18. constipation
19. cough
20. depression
21. diarrhea
22. dizziness
23. drowsiness
24. dyspepsia
25. dyspnea
26. edema
27. elevated hepatic enzymes
28. epistaxis
29. erythema
30. erythema multiforme
31. exfoliative dermatitis
32. fatigue
33. fever
34. fluid retention
35. flushing
36. headache
37. hematuria
38. hepatic failure
39. hepatic necrosis
40. hepatitis
41. hepatomegaly
42. hyperbilirubinemia
43. hypercalcemia
44. hyperglycemia
45. hypertension
46. hypokalemia
47. hypomagnesemia
48. hypotension
49. hypoxia
50. infection
51. injection site reaction
52. insomnia
53. jaundice
54. myocardial infarction
55. nausea
56. neutropenia
57. pancreatitis
58. peripheral edema
59. petechiae
60. phlebitis
61. pleural effusion
62. pruritus
63. pulmonary edema
64. rash
65. renal failure (unspecified)
66. seizures
67. sinus tachycardia
68. skin ulcer
69. Stevens-Johnson syndrome
70. tachypnea
71. thrombocytopenia
72. toxic epidermal necrolysis
73. tremor
74. urticaria
75. vomiting

Contraindications

• breast-feeding
• pregnancy

Caspofungin is contraindicated for use in patients with known hypersensitivity (e.g., anaphylaxis) to any of the product components.

Interactions

• Carbamazepine
• Cyclosporine
• Dexamethasone
• Dichlorphenamide
• Efavirenz
• Efavirenz; Emtricitabine; Tenofovir
• Efavirenz; Lamivudine; Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate
• Ethotoin
• Fosphenytoin
• Nevirapine
• Phenytoin
• Rifamycins
• Sirolimus
• Tacrolimus

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