Drugs for Serious Fungal Infections
Drug |
Common Uses |
Some Side Effects |
|
Amphotericin B |
Most fungal infections |
Chills, fever, headache, vomiting, a low potassium level* in the blood, kidney failure, and anemia |
|
Anidulafungin Caspofungin Micafungin |
Nausea, diarrhea, headache, liver inflammation, inflammation of the vein, and rash |
|
|
Fluconazole |
Candidal and other fungal infections, including coccidioidomycosis and cryptococcal infections |
Nausea, rash, and liver inflammation |
|
Flucytosine† |
Candidal and cryptococcal infections |
Nausea, vomiting, and bone marrow damage |
|
Isavuconazole |
Nausea, vomiting, and liver inflammation |
|
|
Itraconazole |
Fungal skin infections, histoplasmosis, blastomycosis, coccidioidomycosis, and sporotrichosis |
Nausea, diarrhea, liver inflammation, rash, headache, dizziness, a low potassium level* in the blood, high blood pressure, accumulation of fluid (edema), and heart failure |
|
SUBA-itraconazole |
Nausea, diarrhea, liver inflammation, rash, headache, dizziness, a low potassium level* in the blood, high blood pressure, accumulation of fluid (edema), and heart failure |
|
|
Posaconazole |
Aspergillus, candidal, and many other fungal infections |
Nausea, vomiting, rash, and liver inflammation |
|
Voriconazole |
Aspergillus and candidal infections, fusariosis, and scedosporiosis |
Temporary disturbances in vision (such as blurred vision, changes in color vision, and sensitivity to light), nausea, vomiting, rash, and liver inflammation |
|
* A low potassium level (hypokalemia) can cause muscle weakness, cramping, and twitches and abnormal heart rhythms. |
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† Flucytosine is usually used with other drugs. |
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