Medications and Drugs

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Brand Names: Noxafil

Generic Name: posaconazole (Pronunciation: poe sa KONE a zole)

• What is posaconazole (Noxafil)?
• What are the possible side effects of posaconazole (Noxafil)?
• What is the most important information I should know about posaconazole (Noxafil)?
• What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using posaconazole (Noxafil)?
• How should I take posaconazole (Noxafil)?
• What happens if I miss a dose (Noxafil)?
• What happens if I overdose (Noxafil)?
• What should I avoid while taking posaconazole (Noxafil)?
• What other drugs will affect posaconazole (Noxafil)?
• Where can I get more information?

What is posaconazole (Noxafil)?

Posaconazole is an antifungal medication that fights certain infections caused by fungus.

Posaconazole is used to prevent fungal infections in people with weak immune systems resulting from chemotherapy or stem cell transplantation.

Posaconazole may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What are the possible side effects of posaconazole (Noxafil)?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

• pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness;
• fever, chills, cough, body aches, flu symptoms;
• slow, fast, or pounding heartbeats;
• feeling light-headed, fainting;
• numbness or tingly feeling around your mouth, muscle tightness or contraction, overactive reflexes;
• confusion, uneven heart rate, extreme thirst, increased urination, leg discomfort, muscle weakness or limp feeling;
• swelling of your ankles or feet;
• nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
• dangerously high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, chest pain, shortness of breath, seizure).

Less serious side effects may include:

• mild headache, tired feeling;
• joint or muscle pain;
• sleep problems (insomnia);
• mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation; or
• mild skin rash.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What is the most important information I should know about posaconazole (Noxafil)?

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to posaconazole, or if you are using any of the following drugs:

• halofantrine (Halfan);
• pimozide (Orap);
• quinidine (Quin-G);
• simvastatin (Zocor, Simcor, Vytorin);
• sirolimus (Rapamune) or tacrolimus (Prograf); or
• ergot medicine such as ergotamine (Ergomar), dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal Nasal Spray), ergonovine (Ergotrate), or methylergonovine (Methergine).

Take this medication for the full prescribed length of time. Your symptoms may improve before the infection is completely cleared. Posaconazole will not treat a viral infection such as the common cold or flu.

Call your doctor if you have ongoing vomiting or diarrhea. Posaconazole may not work as well while during this time.

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