Indications
Posaconazole is used in patients aged 13 years and above to treat certain fungal infections. These are invasive aspergillosis in patients with disease that is refractory or intolerant to Amphotericin B or Itraconazole, and fusariosis in patients with disease that is refractory or intolerant to Amphotericin B. It is also used for chromoblastomycosis and mycetoma in patients with disease that is refractory or intolerant to Itraconazole. For coccidioidomycosis, it is used when the disease is refractory or intolerant to Amphotericin B, Itraconazole or Fluconazole, or in patients who are intolerant of these medicinal products. Posanox is also indicated for prophylaxis of invasive fungal infections in two groups of patients. The first group is patients receiving remission-induction chemotherapy for Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) or Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS), where prolonged neutropenia is expected and the risk of developing invasive fungal infections is high. The second is Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT) recipients who are undergoing high-dose immunosuppressive therapy for graft versus host disease and are at high risk of developing invasive fungal infections. Refractoriness means progression of infection or failure to improve after a minimum of 7 days of prior therapeutic doses of effective antifungal therapy.
⚠️ Always consult a registered physician before taking any medicine.
Pharmacology
Posaconazole stops fungal cells from making ergosterol, which is a key part of the fungal cell membrane. It does this by inhibiting Lanosterol 14-α-demethylase, a cytochrome P-450 dependent enzyme that converts lanosterol to ergosterol in the membrane. When this enzyme is blocked, methylated sterol precursors build up and ergosterol runs low inside the cell membrane. The structure and function of the fungal cell membrane are weakened as a result.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Posaconazole should not be used during pregnancy unless the benefit to the mother clearly outweighs the possible risk to the fetus. If a mother is breast-feeding, she must stop once treatment with this medicine begins.
⚠️ 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.
Side Effects & Interactions
Side Effects
No side-effect data recorded yet.