Anidulafungin

Anidulafungin is a prescription medication used to treat Candidemia, and Esophageal Candidiasis.

• Anidulafungin is available under the following different brand names: Eraxis. 

Adult and pediatric dosage

Injection, lyophilized powder for reconstitution 

• 50mg/vial
• 100mg/vial

Candidemia

Adult dosage

• Day 1: 200 mg IV infusion, then
• Day 2 and thereafter: 100 mg/day IV
• Generally continue 14 days after last positive culture

Pediatric dosage

• Indicated for children aged 1 month or older
• Day 1: 3 mg/kg (not to exceed 200 mg/dose) IV infusion, then 
• Day 2 and thereafter: 1.5 mg/kg (not to exceed 100 mg/dose) IV
• Generally continue 14 days after last positive culture

Esophageal Candidiasis

Adult dosage

• Day 1: 100 mg IV infusion, then
• Day 2 and thereafter: 50 mg/day IV
• Minimum 14-day treatment, at least 7 days following resolution of symptoms

Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows: 

• See "Dosages."

Common side effects of Anidulafungin include:

• abnormal liver function tests, 
• hunger, 
• sweating, 
• irritability, 
• dizziness, 
• shakiness, 
• sore throat, 
• white patches in the mouth or throat, 
• low blood pressure, 
• lightheadedness, 
• anemia, 
• easy bruising, 
• unusual bleeding, 
• nosebleeds, 
• fever, 
• stomach pain, 
• indigestion, 
• nausea, 
• vomiting, 
• diarrhea, 
• low potassium, 
• headache, 
• trouble sleeping, and
• rash

Serious side effects of Anidulafungin include:

• hives, 
• difficulty breathing, 
• swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, 
• lightheadedness,
• itching, 
• warmth, 
• tingling, 
• sweating, 
• tightness in the chest, 
• little or no urination, 
• dark urine, 
• pain or burning while urination, 
• stomach pain, 
• bloating, 
• easy bruising, 
• unusual bleeding, 
• purple or red spots under the skin, 
• leg cramps, 
• constipation, 
• irregular heartbeats, 
• fluttering in the chest, 
• increased thirst or urination, 
• numbness or tingling, 
• muscle weakness, 
• limp feeling, 
• pale skin, 
• unusual tiredness, 
• shortness of breath, and 
• cold hands and feet 

Specific to infants: 

• severe drowsiness, 
• fussiness, 
• feeding problems, and 
• vomiting 

Rare side effects of Anidulafungin include:

• none 

This is not a complete list of side effects and other serious side effects or health problems may occur as a result of the use of this drug. Call your doctor for medical advice about serious side effects or adverse reactions. You may report side effects or health problems to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

If your medical doctor is using this medicine to treat your pain, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider or pharmacist first.

• Anidulafungin has severe interactions with no other drugs.
• Anidulafungin has serious interactions with the following drug:
  • Saccharomyces boulardii
• Anidulafungin has moderate interactions with the following drug:
  • voclosporin
• Anidulafungin has minor interactions with no other drug.

This information does not contain all possible interactions or adverse effects. Visit the RxList Drug Interaction Checker for any drug interactions. Therefore, before using this drug, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the drugs you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your physician if you have health questions or concerns.

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity to any component or echinocandins
• Known or suspected hereditary fructose intolerance

Effects of drug abuse

• None

Short-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Anidulafungin?”

Long-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Anidulafungin?”

Cautions

• Abnormal LFTs observed; if elevated liver tests develop, monitor for evidence of worsening hepatic tests and evaluate risk benefit of continuing anidulafungin monitor for potential hepatic problems
• Anaphylactic reactions, including shock, reported; discontinue and initiate appropriate treatment if this occurs
• Infusion-related adverse reactions (possibly histamine-mediated) reported, including rash, urticaria, flushing, pruritus, bronchospasm, dyspnea, and hypotension; reduce risk by not exceeding recommended infusion rate
• Contains polysorbate 80, an inactive ingredient; thrombocytopenia, renal dysfunction, hepatomegaly, cholestasis, ascites, hypotension, and metabolic acidosis reported in low-birth weight infants receiving high doses of polysorbate; toxicity has not been reported with anidulafungin
• Contains fructose; may precipitate a metabolic crisis (e.g., life-threatening hypoglycemia, hypophosphatemia, lactic acidosis, hepatic failure) in patients with hereditary fructose intolerance

Pregnancy and Lactation

• Based on findings from animal studies, therapy can cause fetal harm when administered to pregnant females; there is no available human data on use in pregnant females to inform a drug-associated risk of adverse developmental outcomes. 
• There are no data on presence of drug in human milk, effects on breastfed infant or on milk production
• Drug found in milk of lactating rats; when a drug is present in animal milk, it is likely that the drug will be present in human milk
• Developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with mother’s clinical need for therapy and any potential adverse effects on breastfed child from therapy or from underlying maternal condition.