Pentamidine

What is Pentamidine?

Pentamidine is an antifungal medicine that combats the occurrence of infections due to fungus. Pentamidine is a medication used to treat and prevent the symptoms of pneumonia that are caused by Pneumocystis Jiroveci (Carinii). Pentamidine is also employed for other purposes that are not covered in this guideline.

Side effects of Pentamidine

Contact a medical professional immediately. If you experience any of the following symptoms that indicate reactions to an allergen, such as hives: difficulty breathing and swelling of your lips, face, and tongue,

Pentamidine could cause severe adverse effects. Consult your physician right away in the event that you experience:

• wheezing or choking, or other breathing issues after taking this medication in conjunction with the help of a nebulizer.
• A feeling of lightheadedness that makes you feel like you've passed out;
• Rapid or irregular heart rate;
• Urination that is painful or difficult
• Confusion, hallucinations;
• Burns, pain, or skin changes after the injection was administered.
• Worsening symptoms or signs of the onset of a new illness (fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or sleepy sweats at night);
• A blood cell disorder: pale skin, feeling lightheaded or short of breath, bleeding that is not normal, easy bruising in red or purple spots on your skin
• Pancreatitis—severe discomfort in your stomach that spreads into your lower back, vomiting as well as nausea;
• Low blood sugar—headache and hunger, sweating, anxiety, confusion, dizziness, or feeling nervous or
• Extreme skin reaction, fever, sore throat, swelling of your tongue or face, burning eyes, skin irritation, and an irritated or purple rash that spreads (especially on the face or the upper part of your body) and leads to blistering and peeling.

Common pentamidine-related side effects could include:

• Lack of appetite or
• A strange or unpleasant taste is present on the tongue.

This isn't an exhaustive list of possible side effects, and others could happen. Contact your doctor for advice regarding medical effects. You can report any adverse reactions to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Similar/related drugs

Clindamycin, Bactrim, Sulfamethoxazole/Trimethoprim, Bactrim DS, Cleocin, Dapsone, and Leucovorin

Warnings

Follow the directions on the label of your medication and on the label of your package. Inform your healthcare professionals about your allergies, medical issues, and any other medications you take.

Before taking this medication

Pentamidine is not a good choice if you have an allergy to it.

To ensure that pentamidine is suitable for you, inform your physician if you suffer from:

• Excessive blood pressure or lower blood pressure;
• A heart rhythm disorder
• Diabetes and the low level of blood sugar (hypoglycemia);
• A pancreas disorder;
• A severe skin rash called stevens-johnson syndrome;
• Anemia (low red blood cells);
• Low white blood cells, or lower platelet levels in the blood.
• Low levels of calcium, or the high level of potassium present in your blood.
• Kidney or liver disease; or
• An antecedent that includes tobacco use as well as the presence of asthma.

FDA pregnant category C. It isn't known whether pentamidine can cause harm to a baby who is not yet born. Inform your doctor if you are expecting or planning to become pregnant while taking the medication. It is unclear if pentamidine is absorbed into the milk of a nursing baby or whether it can harm the nursing infant. It is not recommended to breastfeed while taking pentamidine.Pentamidine inhaled should not be administered to children without consulting a physician.

How to take Pentamidine?

Pentamidine is available in the form of an injection or in the form of an inhaled medication by using the nebulizer. Follow all the instructions on the prescription label. Don't use this medication in smaller or larger amounts or for a longer period than the recommended time.

Pentamidine is a drug in the form of a powder that must be mixed with liquid (diluent) prior to using the medicine as an injection or the use of a nebulizer. If you're taking this medication at home, ensure you know how to combine and preserve the drug. Make sure you use only the diluent that comes with your prescription.

For pentamidine to be used as an injection

• Pentamidine can be injected into the muscle or taken via iv. You can be instructed on how to administer an iv at home. Do not inject this medicine yourself in case you aren't sure how to administer the injection, and safely dispose of any iv tubing, needles that are no longer in use, as well as other tools that you use to inject the medicine.
• Don't use pentamidine if it has changed color or contains particles. Contact your pharmacist to inquire about the latest medications.
• Inform your doctor whether you feel any pain, burning, or swelling in the area of an iv needle during the time pentamidine is being injected.
• Make use of a disposable needle once and then dispose of it in a container with a puncture-proof seal (ask your pharmacist where to get one and what you can get rid of). Make sure this container is away from the reach of pets and children.

To make use of pentamidine using the nebulizer

• After mixing the medicine with the diluting agent, pour the entire mixture into the nebulizer's chamber. Attach the mask or mouthpiece before attaching the chamber for the drug to the compressor.
• Do not mix other medications with the nebulizer, including pentamidine.
• Relax and sit upright in a comfortable place. The mouthpiece should be placed in your mouth, or you can wear the face mask to cover your mouth and nose. The compressor should be turned on.
• Breathe slowly and evenly until further mist is created by the nebulizer. The drug chamber is empty.
• Clean the nebulizer after every use. Follow the cleaning instructions included with your nebulizer.

If you're diabetic, be sure to examine your blood sugar closely when you take pentamidine. The medication can increase or lower the blood sugar of your patients. If you take pentamidine, you might require regular blood tests. The heart's function could need to be monitored with an electrocardiograph, also known as an ECG (sometimes known as an EKG). EKG). Keep unmixed medicines at room temperature, away from heat, humidity, and light.

Mixing medicine must be done within a set amount of time, dependent on the diluting agent. Be sure to follow the instructions for mixing and storage that are included in your medication. Talk to your pharmacist if you have any questions. Pentamidine does not contain any preservatives. Get rid of any medicine that has been used up.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Consult your physician for recommendations when you have missed the medication pentamidine.

What happens if I overdose?

For medical emergencies, seek emergency medical attention or contact the Poison Help Line toll-free at 1-800-222-1222.

What should be avoided?

Follow the instructions of your physician regarding any limitations on foods, drinks, or activities.

Interaction with other drugs

Other medications can interact with pentamidine. This includes medications that are prescribed and available over the counter, vitamins, and herbal products. Be sure to inform your health professionals about any medications you take in the present and any medication that you decide to stop or change your use of.