Noxafil

Noxafil

Generic Name: posaconazole (poe sa KONE a zole)

Brand Names: Noxafil

What is Noxafil?

Noxafil (posaconazole) is an antifungal medication that fights certain infections caused by fungus.

Noxafil is used to prevent fungal infections in people with weak immune systems resulting from chemotherapy or stem cell transplantation.

Noxafil may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Important information about Noxafil

You should not use Noxafil if you are allergic to posaconazole, or if you are using any of the following drugs:

halofantrine (Halfan);

pimozide (Orap);

quinidine (Quin-G);

simvastatin (Zocor, Simcor, Vytorin);

sirolimus (Rapamune) or tacrolimus (Prograf); or

ergot medicine such as ergotamine (Ergomar), dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal Nasal Spray), ergonovine (Ergotrate), or methylergonovine (Methergine).

Take Noxafil for the full prescribed length of time. Your symptoms may improve before the infection is completely cleared. Noxafil will not treat a viral infection such as the common cold or flu. Call your doctor if you have ongoing vomiting or diarrhea. Noxafil may not work as well while during this time.

Before using Noxafil

You should not use Noxafil if you are allergic to posaconazole, or if you are using any of the following drugs:

halofantrine (Halfan);

pimozide (Orap);

quinidine (Quin-G);

simvastatin (Zocor, Simcor, Vytorin);

sirolimus (Rapamune) or tacrolimus (Prograf); or

ergot medicine such as ergotamine (Ergomar), dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal Nasal Spray), ergonovine (Ergotrate), or methylergonovine (Methergine).

To make sure you can safely take Noxafil, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:

a personal or family history of "Long QT syndrome";

a history of allergy to antifungals such as fluconazole (Diflucan), itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral), or voriconazole (Vfend);

liver disease; or

a heart rhythm disorder.

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether Noxafil will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using Noxafil. It is not known whether posaconazole passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use Noxafil without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Do not give this medication to a child younger than 13 years old.

See also: Noxafil pregnancy and breastfeeding warnings (in more detail)

How should I take Noxafil?

Take Noxafil exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Noxafil works best if you take it within 20 minutes after a full meal or a nutritional supplement (such as Ensure). Shake the oral suspension (liquid) well just before you measure a dose. Measure the liquid with a special dose-measuring spoon or medicine cup, not with a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.

Call your doctor if you have ongoing vomiting or diarrhea. Noxafil may not work as well while during this time.

To be sure this medication is not causing harmful effects, your blood may need to be tested often. Your liver function may also need to be tested. Visit your doctor regularly.

Take Noxafil for the full prescribed length of time. Your symptoms may improve before the infection is completely cleared. Noxafil will not treat a viral infection such as the common cold or flu.

Store Noxafil at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

What should I avoid while taking Noxafil?

Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.

Noxafil side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to Noxafil: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect while using Noxafil such as:

pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness;

fever, chills, cough, body aches, flu symptoms;

slow, fast, or pounding heartbeats;

feeling light-headed, fainting;

numbness or tingly feeling around your mouth, muscle tightness or contraction, overactive reflexes;

confusion, uneven heart rate, extreme thirst, increased urination, leg discomfort, muscle weakness or limp feeling;

swelling of your ankles or feet;

nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or

dangerously high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, chest pain, shortness of breath, seizure).

Less serious Noxafil side effects may include:

mild headache, tired feeling;

joint or muscle pain;

sleep problems (insomnia);

mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation; or

mild skin rash.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

See also: Noxafil side effects (in more detail)

What other drugs will affect Noxafil?

Many drugs can interact with Noxafil. Below is just a partial list. Tell your doctor if you are using:

arsenic trioxide (Trisenox);

cimetidine (Tagamet);

cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune, Gengraf);

digoxin (digitalis, Lanoxin);

droperidol (Inapsine);

esomeprazole (Nexium);

midazolam (Versed);

phenytoin (Dilantin);

an antibiotic such as clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin (E.E.S., EryPed, Ery-Tab, Erythrocin), levofloxacin (Levaquin), moxifloxacin (Avelox), pentamidine (NebuPent, Pentam), or rifabutin (Mycobutin);

an antidepressant;

anti-malaria medications;

heart or blood pressure medication such as diltiazem (Cartia, Cardizem), felodipine (Plendil), nifedipine (Nifedical, Procardia), verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan), and others;

cancer medicines such as vinblastine (Velban) o vincristine (Oncovin, Vincasar), vindesine (Eldisine), or vinorelbine (Navelbine);

cholesterol-lowering medicines such as atorvastatin (Lipitor, Caduet), fluvastatin (Lescol), lovastatin (Mevacor, Altoprev, Advicor), pravastatin (Pravachol), or rosuvastatin (Crestor);

heart rhythm medication;

HIV medication such as atazanavir (Reyataz), efavirenz (Sustiva), or ritonavir (Norvir, Kaletra);

medicine to prevent or treat nausea and vomiting, such as metoclopramide (Reglan) or ondansetron (Zofran);

medicines to treat psychiatric disorders;

migraine headache medicine such as sumatriptan (Imitrex) or zolmitriptan (Zomig); or

narcotic medication.

This list is not complete and there are many other drugs that can interact with Noxafil. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor. Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to any healthcare provider who treats you.

More Noxafil resources

Noxafil Side Effects (in More Detail)

Noxafil Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Noxafil Drug Interactions

Noxafil Support Group

1 Review for Noxafil - Add your own review/rating

Noxafil Prescribing Information (FDA)

Noxafil Suspension MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)

Noxafil Monograph (AHFS DI)

Noxafil Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information

Posaconazole Professional Patient Advice (Wolters Kluwer)

Compare Noxafil with other medications

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Candida Infections, Systemic

Oral Thrush

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about Noxafil.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects.