Consumer Information for: MICAFUNGIN FOR INJECTION

Consumer Information

Information about the product including what the product is used for, dosage, warnings, proper use and side effects. This summary will not tell you everything about the product. Contact your healthcare professional if you have any questions about the product.


PART III: CONSUMER INFORMATION

PrMicafungin for Injection

This leaflet is part III of a three-part “Product Monograph” published when Micafungin for Injection was approved for sale in Canada and is designed specifically for Consumers. This leaflet is a summary and will not tell you everything about Micafungin for Injection. Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions about the drug.

ABOUT THIS MEDICATION
What the medication is used for:

Your doctor has prescribed Micafungin for Injection to treat one of several types of fungal infections described below.

  • Micafungin for Injection is used to treat certain fungal infections of the esophagus (food tube connecting the mouth to the stomach). These infections are called esophageal candidiasis and are caused by Candida (fungus). Healthy individuals usually have Candida in their mouth and throat without any ill effects. An infection occurs when the body’s resistance is lowered.

  • Micafungin for Injection is used to treat patients with certain fungal infections caused by Candida including Candidemia and other Candida infections as determined by the doctor.

  • Micafungin for Injection is used to help prevent fungal infections caused by Candida in patients who are undergoing a stem cell transplant.

Micafungin for Injection has not been studied for the treatment of other types of fungal infections.

What it does:

Micafungin for Injection is an antifungal drug that belongs to a class of drugs called echinocandins. Micafungin interferes with the production of a component (glucan polysaccharide) of the fungal cell wall that is necessary if the fungus is to continue living and growing. Fungal cells exposed to Micafungin for Injection have incomplete or defective cell walls, making them fragile and unable to grow.

When it should not be used:

Do not use Micafungin for Injection if you are allergic to it, another echinocandin (eg. caspofungin acetate (Cancidas) or anidulafungin (Eraxis)) or any of the ingredients in Micafungin for Injection (see What the non-medicinal ingredients are).

Use in children:

  • Micafungin for Injection should not be used in patients under 4 months of age.
What the medicinal ingredient is:

Micafungin sodium

What the non-medicinal ingredients are:

Lactose monohydrate, citric acid and/or sodium hydroxide This is a complete listing of all non-medicinal ingredients.

What dosage forms it comes in:

Micafungin for Injection (micafungin sodium) is available as a sterile powder for injection containing 50 mg or 100 mg micafungin (as micafungin sodium) per vial.

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

Serious Warnings and Precautions:

  • The use of Micafungin for Injection may sometimes severe cause allergic reactions including shock (see Side Effects).

  • Serious liver problems including liver inflammation or worsening of liver failure (see Side Effects).

  • Micafungin for Injection may cause kidney problems, kidney failure, and abnormal kidney function tests.

  • Micafungin for Injection may cause destruction of red blood cells called hemolysis or hemolytic anemia.

Use in pregnancy and breast-feeding: Micafungin for Injection has not been studied in pregnant women. Micafungin for Injection should not be used in pregnancy unless the doctor decides the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.

It is not known if Micafungin for Injection is excreted in breast milk. You and your doctor will discuss this.

Use in patients with liver problems:

Patients with liver problems may require extra vigilance by their doctor to monitor liver function. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have had or now have liver problems.

BEFORE you use Micafungin for Injection talk to your doctor or pharmacist if:

  • You are taking or plan to take other medications, including those obtained without a prescription.

  • You have liver problems

  • You are pregnant

  • You are breast feeding

  • You are allergic to any component of Micafungin for Injection.

INTERACTIONS WITH THIS MEDICATION

Micafungin for Injection and other medicines may interact with each other. Tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you take including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Especially, tell your healthcare professional if you take:

  • sirolimus (Rapamune)

  • nifedipine (Adalat)

  • itraconazole (Sporanox)

  • amphotericin B

The doses of these medicines may need to be reduced while you are receiving Micafungin for Injection.

PROPER USE OF THIS MEDICATION

Usual dose (adults and children over 4 months of age): The treatment schedule and dosage will be set by your doctor, who will monitor your response and condition. Micafungin for Injection should be administered once daily by slow intravenous infusion of approximately 1 hour.

Overdose

If you think you, or a person you are caring for, have taken too much Micafungin for Injection, contact a healthcare professional, hospital emergency department, or regional poison control centre immediately, even if there are no symptoms.
SIDE EFFECTS AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM

 

Serious side effects and what to do about them

Symptom / effect

Talk to your healthcare professional

Stop taking drug and get immediate medical help

 

Only if severe

In all cases

Common

Swollen veins (phlebitis, thrombophlebitis)

 

 

Liver problems (eg. yellowing

of the skin and eyes, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and fatigue)

 

 

Uncommon

Serious allergic reaction and symptoms such as severe rash, itching, swelling of hands and feet, trouble breathing

   

Any medicine may have unintended or undesirable effects, so- called side effects.

Common side effects of Micafungin for Injection include rash, mental confusion, nausea, vomiting, itching, facial swelling, diarrhea, fever, fatigue and relaxing of blood vessels (vasodilation). Micafungin for Injection may also cause injection site reactions such as inflammation of the veins.

Other reported medication-related undesirable effects include: anemia, low white blood cells count, abdominal pain, injection site pain, itching, trouble breathing, swelling of the hands, ankles, or feet, impaired liver function, sleep problems, and alterations in some laboratory blood tests. Life-threatening allergic reactions have been reported rarely during administration of micafungin sodium.

Other side effects may also occur rarely; and, as with any prescription medication, some side effects may be serious. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information. Tell your doctor promptly about these or any other unusual symptoms.

This is not a complete list of side effects. For any unexpected effects while taking Micafungin for Injection contact your doctor.

HOW TO STORE IT

Store between 15-30° C. Protect from light.

Reporting Side Effects

You can report any suspected side effects associated with the use of health products to Health Canada by:

NOTE: Contact your healthcare professional if you need information about how to manage your side effects. The Canada Vigilance Program does not provide medical advice.

MORE INFORMATION
If you want more information about Micafungin for Injection

This leaflet was prepared by Accord Healthcare Inc.

Last Revised: November 15, 2023