There are countless diseases caused by fungi. Some of them, such as fungal meningitis , penicilliosis and even some cases of candidiasis can be very serious (or even fatal). In such cases, specific medications with enhanced action – such as AmBisome – are needed.
Check the indications, side effects, action and other information about this remedy:
Contents
What is the AmBisome Lipossomal drug?
AmBisome is a medicine from the United Medical laboratory and is used to treat serious infections caused by fungi susceptible to it – such as cryptococcosis , North American blastomycosis, disseminated candidiasis and mucormycosis. It has as an active ingredient Amphotericin B Liposomal, an antifungal substance.
Currently, the medication is available for use via intravenous infusion (that is, medication administered through the patient’s vein, as a “serum”).
What is AmBisome for?
According to the package insert, the drug AmBisome is indicated for the treatment of serious fungal infections . It can treat both severe opportunistic infections and endemic or systemic opportunistic infections.
Opportunistic infections are caused by microorganisms that, in people with normal immunity, are unlikely to lead to disease. However, in people with low immunity, they can cause serious and even fatal infections.
The endemic are infections that usually reach a population of a specific geographic region – featuring an endemic disease. Finally, those of the systemic type are those that do not affect only one region of the body, but that in some way affect the organism as a whole.
In some cases, the package insert also indicates that the medication can be used to treat visceral leishmaniasis, a disease caused by a parasite.
In addition, AmBisome is not recommended for treating simple fungal infections (such as in the nail, for example). In this case, much simpler and more conventional treatments can be performed.
How does Amphotericin B Liposomal work?
Amphotericin B is a substance that can act as a fungistatic (reduces the rate of growth of fungi) or as a fungicide (kills fungi). This can vary according to its concentration in body fluids and also due to the sensitivity of the fungus to the medication and / or active substance.
The package insert indicates that the medicine’s action occurs through its binding with sterols (a type of lipid) on the fungal cell membrane. In a way that alters the cell wall and allows the passage of small molecules. With that, fighting infection.
Dose: how does the bullet indicate using AmBisome?
AmBisome must be administered intravenously (infusion into a vein) and is a powdered medication used to make the solution for infusion. It is worth mentioning that each ampoule of the medicine contains 50mg of the active ingredient – Amphotericin B.
The medicine is for the exclusive use of hospitals and, therefore, must always be prepared and administered by a doctor or nurse.
The package insert reinforces that AmBisome cannot be administered by any other route, except intravenous by infusion. In addition, it should not be mixed with saline solutions, other drugs or electrolytes (minerals responsible for transporting water into cells).
What are the side effects of AmBisome?
Although not all patients have side effects due to the use of medication, this possibility cannot be ruled out.
The leaflet indicates how very common adverse reactions (occur in more than 10% of patients) of AmBisome:
- Tiredness, mental confusion, muscle weakness or cramps – caused by low levels of potassium in the blood;
- Nausea and vomiting;
- Fever, chills or tremors.
Still, highlights the common reactions (occur in 1% to 10% of patients):
- Tiredness, mental confusion, muscle weakness or cramps – caused by low levels of magnesium, calcium or sodium in the blood;
- High blood sugar levels;
- Headache;
- Heart rate above normal;
- Dilation of blood vessels, low blood pressure and flushing (redness of the skin);
- Lack of air;
- Diarrhea, abdominal pain;
- Abnormal liver or kidney function in blood or urine tests;
- Rash;
- Chest and / or back pain.
To find out more information about unusual or rare reactions, you can consult the package leaflet and seek medical advice.
Is it approved by ANVISA?
-Yeah . The drug AmBisome is registered with ANVISA (National Health Surveillance Agency) under No. 125760007 and is in the category of antifungals.
With that, we can say that it is marketed as a drug with proven efficacy from tests and safe to use.
Value: what is the price of AmBisome and where to buy cheaper?
The price * for AmBisome may vary according to your region and also according to the availability of the medication.
In general, the value of the box with 10 vials (with powder for solution for intramuscular or intravenous use) is around R $ 26,000.
A single ampoule is in the range of R $ 25,000.
* Prices consulted in March 2020. Prices may change.
Is it generic or similar?
AmBisome is a similar drug , produced by the United Medical laboratory. As seen in the previous topics, it has Amphotericin B as its active ingredient.
A similar drug is one with the same active substance as the reference, with the same concentration, pharmaceutical form, route of administration, dosage and therapeutic indication.
However, it can vary in the size and / or shape of the product, as well as in relation to the expiration date, packaging, labeling, excipients and vehicle.
Vehicles are therapeutically inactive ingredients that carry the active ingredient. They are usually present in the formula of liquid remedies (like syrups, for example).
Still, it is worth mentioning that a similar drug must have a commercial name . That is, you cannot use only the name of the drug (active ingredient) as the generics.
Does amphotericin B have in the SUS?
-Yeah . The substance Amphotericin (active ingredient of the medicine AmBisome) is present in the National List of Essential Medicines (RENAME) of 2020.
Therefore, it must be made available by the Unified Health System (SUS). It is important to remember that to have access to medication, a medical prescription is required.
How to budget?
In case of medications not provided by the Federal Government, patients with a medical prescription can make a judicial request to receive treatment from the Unified Health System (SUS) or the Health Plan – if applicable.
In this case, it is necessary to open a process following the stipulated requests. Among them is the delivery of documents that include, among others:
- Medical report;
- Exams;
- Standard requirement;
- Budget of 3 pharmacies .
To carry out the budget, you can count on the assistance in judicial quotations for the purchase of medicines. This advisory provides a personalized quote and in an easy way, in order to simplify the process.
When accessing the link , just complete your registration (you only need to inform some personal data and the medication in question). Finally, click on “request quotes” and wait for the return.
The medicine AmBisome is a potent ally in the fight against serious infections caused by fungi. This is important considering that some of the fungal diseases can even cause patients to die.
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