Flucytosine

Flucytosine Brand Name– Ancobon

What is Flucytosine

Flucytosine is an oral antifungal agent. It is a fluorinated pyrimidine that is structurally similar to both fluorouracil and floxuridine.

Flucytosine is also known as 5-FC. It was approved by the FDA in 1971 and until recently was used mainly in combination with amphotericin B in the treatment of cryptococcal meningitis.

Since the release of fluconazole in 1990, flucytosine use has declined significantly.

Indications

  1. Aspergillus sp.
  2. Candida sp.
  3. candidemia
  4. candidiasis
  5. candiduria
  6. chromomycosis
  7. Cladosporium sp.
  8. cryptococcal meningitis
  9. cryptococcosis
  10. Cryptococcus neoformans
  11. Cryptococcus sp.
  12. cystitis
  13. endocarditis
  14. endophthalmitis
  15. meningitis
  16. Phialophora sp.
  17. pyelonephritis
  18. Sporothrix schenckii
  19. urinary tract infection (UTI)

Side Effects

  1. abdominal pain
  2. agranulocytosis
  3. anemia
  4. anorexia
  5. aplastic anemia
  6. ataxia
  7. azotemia
  8. bone marrow suppression
  9. cardiac arrest
  10. chest pain (unspecified)
  11. colitis
  12. confusion
  13. crystalluria
  14. diarrhea
  15. drowsiness
  16. dyspnea
  17. elevated hepatic enzymes
  18. eosinophilia
  19. fatigue
  20. fever
  21. GI bleeding
  22. hallucinations
  23. headache
  24. hearing loss
  25. hepatic failure
  26. hepatitis
  27. hepatotoxicity
  28. hyperbilirubinemia
  29. hypoglycemia
  30. hypokalemia
  31. jaundice
  32. leukopenia
  33. nausea
  34. pancytopenia
  35. paresthesias
  36. peptic ulcer
  37. peripheral neuropathy
  38. photosensitivity
  39. pruritus
  40. pseudoparkinsonism
  41. psychosis
  42. rash
  43. renal failure (unspecified)
  44. respiratory arrest
  45. seizures
  46. thrombocytopenia
  47. toxic epidermal necrolysis
  48. urticaria
  49. vertigo
  50. vomiting
  51. weakness
  52. xerostomia

Monitoring Parameters

  • CBC
  • LFTs
  • serum alkaline phosphatase
  • serum creatinine/BUN
  • serum flucytosine concentrations

Contraindications

  • bone marrow suppression
  • breast-feeding
  • children
  • electrolyte imbalance
  • hematological disease
  • hepatotoxicity
  • hypokalemia
  • infants
  • neonates
  • pregnancy
  • radiation therapy
  • renal disease
  • renal failure
  • renal impairment
  • sunlight (UV) exposure

Interactions

  • Abacavir; Lamivudine, 3TC; Zidovudine, ZDV
  • Alkylating agents
  • Amphotericin B
  • Amphotericin B cholesteryl sulfate complex (ABCD)
  • Amphotericin B lipid complex (ABLC)
  • Amphotericin B liposomal (LAmB)
  • Antimetabolites
  • Busulfan
  • Carbamazepine
  • Chlorpromazine
  • Clozapine
  • Codeine; Phenylephrine; Promethazine
  • Codeine; Promethazine
  • Cytarabine, ARA-C
  • Dacarbazine, DTIC
  • Dextromethorphan; Promethazine
  • Dichlorphenamide
  • Fluphenazine
  • Ganciclovir
  • Hydroxyurea
  • Lamivudine, 3TC; Zidovudine, ZDV
  • Mechlorethamine, Nitrogen Mustard
  • Meperidine; Promethazine
  • Mesoridazine
  • Mitomycin
  • Perphenazine
  • Perphenazine; Amitriptyline
  • Phenothiazines
  • Phenylephrine; Promethazine
  • Porfimer
  • Procarbazine
  • Prochlorperazine
  • Promethazine
  • Saccharomyces boulardii
  • Streptozocin
  • Temozolomide
  • Thiethylperazine
  • Thioridazine
  • Thiotepa
  • Trifluoperazine
  • Valganciclovir
  • Verteporfin
  • Zidovudine, ZDV
15585

Sign up to receive the trending updates and tons of Health Tips

Join SeekhealthZ and never miss the latest health information

15856