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Caspofungin Acetate

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Indications

Fungal Infection

Empirical Therapy for Presumed Fungal Infections in Febrile, Neutropenic Patients Caspofungin Acetate for injection is indicated as empirical therapy for presumed fungal infections in febrile, neutropenic adult and pediatric patients (3 months of age and older). Treatment of Candidemia and Other Candida Infections Caspofungin Acetate for injection is indicated for the treatment of candidemia and the following Candida infections: intra-abdominal abscesses, peritonitis, and pleural space infections. This applies to adult and pediatric patients (3 months of age and older). Treatment of Esophageal Candidiasis Caspofungin Acetate for injection is also indicated for the treatment of esophageal candidiasis in adult and pediatric patients (3 months of age and older). Treatment of Invasive Aspergillosis in Patients Who Are Refractory to or Intolerant of Other Therapies Caspofungin Acetate for injection is indicated for the treatment of invasive aspergillosis in adult and pediatric patients (3 months of age and older) who are refractory to or intolerant of other therapies.

⚠️ Always consult a registered physician before taking any medicine.

Pharmacology

Caspofungin is an antifungal medicine and belongs to a newer class called the echinocandins. It is used to treat Aspergillus and Candida infections, and it works by blocking the building of the fungal cell wall. Antifungals in this class stop the synthesis of glucan in the cell wall, probably through the enzyme 1,3-beta glucan synthase.

Resistance can develop. However, in vitro resistance to caspofungin by Aspergillus species has not been studied.

Caspofungin inhibits the synthesis of beta-(1,3)-D-glucan, an essential component of the cell wall of Aspergillus species and Candida species. This substance is not present in mammalian cells. The primary target is beta-(1,3)-glucan synthase.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Caspofungin is Pregnancy Category C. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies of its use in pregnant women. In animal studies it caused embryofetal toxicity, which included increased resorptions, increased peri-implantation loss and incomplete ossification at multiple fetal sites. So caspofungin should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.

It is not known whether caspofungin is present in human milk. It was found in the milk of lactating rats that had been given the drug. Many drugs pass into human milk, so caution should be exercised when caspofungin is given to a nursing woman.

⚠️ Talk to your doctor before taking any medicine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

Dosage Reference

⚠️ Reference ranges from official sources only. Consult your doctor for personalized dosing.

Adults: Important administration instructions for all patients: give caspofungin acetate by slow intravenous (IV) infusion over approximately 1 hour. Don't give it as an intravenous (IV) bolus. Don't mix caspofungin acetate for injection with other medicines, and don't co-infuse them. Don't use diluents that contain dextrose (α-D-glucose). Dosage in adults (18 years of age and older): give a single 70 mg loading dose on Day 1, then 50 mg once daily, for all indications except esophageal candidiasis. For esophageal candidiasis, use 50 mg once daily with no loading dose. Dosage in pediatric patients (3 months to 17 years of age): base the dose on the patient's body surface area. For all indications, give a single 70 mg/m 2 loading dose on Day 1, then 50 mg/m 2 once daily after that. Neither the loading dose nor the daily maintenance dose should go above 70 mg, regardless of the patient's calculated dose. Dosage adjustments in patients with hepatic impairment: reduce the dosage for adult patients with moderate hepatic impairment (35 mg once daily, with a 70 mg loading dose on Day 1 where appropriate). Dosage adjustments in patients receiving concomitant inducers of hepatic CYP enzymes: use a 70 mg once daily dose for adult patients on rifampin. Consider raising the dose to 70 mg once daily for adult patients on nevirapine, efavirenz, carbamazepine, dexamethasone, or phenytoin. Pediatric patients receiving these same concomitant medicines may also need an increase to 70 mg/m 2 once daily (maximum daily dose not to exceed 70 mg).

Side Effects & Interactions

Side Effects

No side-effect data recorded yet.