Posaconazole, Oral

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antifungal; anti-infective

Generic and brand names: posaconazole, oral; Noxafil

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is taken by mouth to prevent fungal infections in people with weakened immune systems. This medicine will not cure viral infections such as colds and the flu. It may be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• liver or kidney disease
• heart disease or heart rhythm problems

Tell your healthcare provider about any other prescription or nonprescription medicines, vitamins, or herbal products you are taking. This medicine can cause life-threatening side effects if you take it with certain other medicines.

Females of childbearing age: Talk with your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Hormonal birth control may be less effective while you are taking this medicine It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I use it?

Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Take this medicine exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes. Do not take more or less or take it longer than prescribed. Do not stop taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval, even if you feel better.

Use the specially marked measuring spoon to measure each dose. The average household teaspoon may not hold the right amount of liquid. Take this medicine with food or liquid nutritional supplement.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.

What if I overdose?

Symptoms of an acute overdose have not been reported.

What should I watch out for?

You may need to have blood tests regularly to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments for these tests.

This medicine may make you dizzy. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.

This medicine may make hormonal birth control less effective. Use another form of birth control such as condoms, a diaphragm, or contraceptive foam or jelly while you are taking this medicine.

If you develop severe diarrhea or vomiting, contact your healthcare provider.

Diabetics: This medicine may affect your blood sugar level and change the amount of insulin or other diabetes medicines you may need. Talk to your healthcare provider about this.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical treatment or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, or throat; trouble breathing).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Slow or irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, fever, severe diarrhea or vomiting, unusual bleeding.

Other: Headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, blurred vision, diarrhea, tiredness, loss of appetite, cough, stomach pain, joint or muscle pain.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• antiarrhythmics such as amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), dofetilide (Tikosyn), quinidine, sotalol (Betapace), and procainamide (Procanbid)
• antibiotics such as erythromycin (Ery-tabs, EES), clarithromycin (Biaxin), and moxifloxacin (Avelox)
• anti-HIV medicines such as indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), nevirapine (Viramune), delavirdine (Rescriptor), ritonavir (Norvir), efavirenz (Sustiva), and saquinavir (Invirase)
• antiseizure medicines such as phenytoin (Dilantin), phenobarbital, and fosphenytoin (Cerebyx)
• benzodiazepines such as alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), triazolam (Halcion), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), lorazepam (Ativan), and midazolam (Versed)
• birth control pills, shots, and patches (talk to your healthcare provider if you need birth control)
• calcium channel blockers such as nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia), isradipine (DynaCirc), felodipine (Plendil), verapamil (Calan, Isoptin), diltiazem (Cardizem), and nicardipine (Cardene)
• cholesterol-lowering medicines (statins) such as atorvastatin (Lipitor), lovastatin (Mevacor), rosuvastatin (Crestor), and simvastatin (Zocor)
• cimetidine (Tagamet, Tagamet HB)
• ergot medicines such as bromocriptine (Parlodel), cabergoline (Dostinex), dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal), ergotamine (Ergomar), ergonovine (Ergotrate), and methylergonovine (Methergine)
• medicines used to treat cancer such as vinblastine (Velban, Alkaban-AQ) and vincristine (Oncovin, Vincasar)
• immunosuppressants such as cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Gengraf, Neoral), sirolimus (Rapamune), and tacrolimus (Prograf, Protopic)
• rifabutin (Mycobutin)
• pimozide (Orap)
• rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane)
• ziprasidone (Geodon)

Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

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This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.

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