50 mg, 70 mg powder for concentrate for infusion solution
kaspofungin
1. What Caspofungin Orion is and what it is used for
What Caspofungin Orion is
Caspofungin Orion contains a medicine called caspofungin. It belongs to a group of medicines called antifungals ( antifungals ).
What Caspofungin Orion is used for
Caspofungin Orion is used to treating the following infections in children, adolescents, and adults:
- severe fungal infections of tissues or organs (called “invasive candidiasis”). Infection is caused by fungal (yeast) cells called Candida. People who can get this type of infection include newly operated patients or those with a weakened immune system. Fever and chills that do not go away with antibiotic treatment are the most common symptoms of this type of infection.
- fungal infections of the nose, sinuses, or lungs (called “invasive aspergillosis”) if other antifungal agents have not had the expected effect or have caused side effects. This infection is caused by an organism called Aspergillus. People who can get this type of infection include those treated with chemotherapy, those who have undergone a transplant, and those with a weakened immune system.
- suspected fungal infections if you have a fever and low white blood cell count that does not go away with antibiotic treatment. People at risk of getting a fungal infection include those who have recently undergone surgery or those with a weakened immune system.
How Caspofungin Orion works
Caspofungin Orion makes fungal cells fragile and prevents the fungus from growing properly. This prevents infection one from spreading and gives the body’s natural defenses a chance to completely get rid of infection one.
Caspofungin contained in Caspofungin Orion may also be approved for the treatment of other conditions not mentioned in this product information. Ask your doctor, pharmacist, or other healthcare professional if you have any further questions and always follow their instructions.
What you need to know before you use Caspofungin Orion
Do not use Caspofungin Orion
You should not be given Caspofungin Orion
- if you are allergic to caspofungin or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
If you are not sure, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before taking this medicine.
Warnings and cautions
Talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse before receiving Caspofungin Orion
- if you are allergic to any other medicines
- if you have ever had liver problems – you may need another dose of this medicine
- if you are already taking ciclosporin (helps prevent transplant rejection or suppress the immune system) – as your doctor may need to take additional blood samples during your treatment
- if you have ever had other medical problems. If any of the above apply to you (or you are not sure), talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before taking Caspofungin Orion. Caspofungin Orion can also cause serious skin side effects such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN).
Other medicines and Caspofungin Orion
Tell your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse if you are taking, have recently taken, or might take any other medicines. This is because Caspofungin Orion may affect the way other medicines work. Other medicines may also affect the way Caspofungin Orion works.
Tell your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse if you are taking any of the following medicines:
- ciclosporin or tacrolimus (helps prevent transplant rejection or suppress the immune system) as your doctor may need to take additional blood samples during your treatment
- certain anti- HIV medicines like efavirenz or nevirapine
- phenytoin or carbamazepine (used to treat seizures)
- dexamethasone (cortisone preparation)
- rifampicin (an antibiotic ). If any of the above apply to you (or you are not sure), talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before taking Caspofungin Orion.
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and fertility
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor for advice before taking this medicine.
- Caspofungin Orion has not been studied in pregnant women. It should only be used during pregnancy if the potential benefit outweighs the potential risk to the unborn baby.
- Women receiving Caspofungin Orion should not breast-feed.
Driving and using machines
There is no information to suggest that Caspofungin Orion affects your ability to drive or use machines.
You are responsible for assessing whether you are fit to drive a motor vehicle or perform work that requires sharpened attention. One of the factors that can affect your ability in these respects is the use of drugs due to their effects and/or side effects. Descriptions of these effects and side effects can be found in other sections. Read all the information in this leaflet for guidance. If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Caspofungin Orion contains excipients
Caspofungin Orion contains sucrose
If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicine.
3. How to use Caspofungin Orion
Caspofungin Orion will always be prepared and given by healthcare professionals.
You will receive Caspofungin Orion:
- Once a day
- with slow injection into a vein ( intravenous infusion )
- for about 1 hour.
Your doctor will determine the duration of treatment and how much Caspofungin Orion you will receive per day. Your doctor will check how well the medicine works for you. If you weigh more than 80 kg, you may need another dose.
Use for children and adolescents
Dose one for children and adolescents may differ from dose one to adults.
If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse.
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
If you get any of the following side effects, talk to your doctor or nurse immediately – you may need urgent medical attention:
- rash, itching, feeling hot, swelling of the face, lips, or throat, or difficulty breathing – you may have had a histamine reaction to the medicine
- difficulty breathing with wheezing or worsening of existing rash – you may have had an allergic reaction to the medicine
- cough, severe breathing difficulties – if you are an adult and have invasive aspergillosis, you may have a serious breathing problem that may result in respiratory failure.
- skin rash, flaky skin, sore mucous membranes, hives, large areas of flaky skin.
As with all prescription drugs, some side effects can be serious. Ask your doctor for more information.
Other side effects in adults include:
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
- decreased hemoglobin (decreased amount of oxygen-transporting substance in the blood), decreased number of white blood cells
- decreased albumin (a type of protein ) in the blood, decreased potassium or low potassium levels in the blood
- headache
- inflammation of the vein
- respiratory distress
- diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting
- changed values for certain blood tests (also applies to elevated values on certain liver samples)
- itching, rash, reddening of the skin, or increased sweating
- joint pain
- chills, fever
- itching at the injection site.
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
- altered values for certain blood tests (including blood coagulation disorders, platelets, red blood cells, and white blood cells )
- decreased appetite, accumulation of fluid in the body, imbalance in the body’s salinity, high blood sugar levels in the blood, low calcium levels in the blood, elevated calcium levels in the blood, low magnesium levels in the blood, increased acid levels in the blood
- confusion, nervous feeling, inability to sleep
- a feeling of dizziness, decreased sensation and sensitivity (especially in the skin), tremors, feeling of tiredness, change in taste, tingling or numbness
- blurred vision, increased amount of tears, swollen eyelids, yellowing of the whites of the eyed feeling of fast or irregular heartbeat, fast heartbeat, irregular heartbeat, abnormal heart rhythm, heart failure
- hot flashes, hot flashes, high blood pressure, low blood pressure, redness along a vein that is also extremely tender to the touch
- tightening of the muscles around the airways that results in wheezing or coughing, rapid breathing, shortness of breath that wakes you up, lack of oxygen in the blood, abnormal breathing sounds, creaking sounds in the lungs, wheezing, nasal congestion, cough, sore throat
- abdominal pain, upper abdominal pain, flatulence, constipation, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth, indigestion, gas, stomach upset, swelling due to accumulation of fluid around the abdomen
- decreased bile flow, liver enlargement, yellowing of the skin and/or whites of the eyes, liver damage caused by drugs or chemicals, liver disorders
- abnormal skin tissue, general itching, hives, various types of rash, abnormal skin, red and often itchy spots on the arms and legs and sometimes on the face and on the rest of the body
- back pain, pain in an arm or leg, bone tissue pain, muscle pain, muscle weakness
- renal impairment, sudden renal impairment
- catheter entry pain, injection site problems ( redness, hardening, pain, swelling, irritation, rash, hives, fluid leakage from the catheter into tissue one), inflammation in the vein at the injection site
- elevated blood pressure and altered values for certain blood tests (including kidney, electrolyte, and coagulation tests), elevated levels of the drug you are taking which weakens the immune system.
- chest discomfort, chest pain, feeling of changing body temperature, general malaise, general pain, swelling of face, swelling of ankles, hands or feet, swelling, tenderness, feeling of tiredness.
Additional side effects in children and adolescents
Very common (may affect more than 1 user in 10)
- fever.
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
- headache
- fast pulse
- hemorrhage, low blood pressure
- altered values for certain blood tests (elevated values on certain liver samples)
- itching, rash
- pain at the catheter area, chills
- changed values for certain blood tests.
Reporting of side effects ar
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This also applies to any side effects not mentioned in this information. You can also report side effects directly (see details below). By reporting side effects, you can help increase drug safety information.
The Medical Products Agency
Box 26
751 03 Uppsala
Website: www.lakemedelsverket.se
5. How to store Caspofungin Orion
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton and vial after EXP. The expiration date is the last day of the specified month.
Store in a refrigerator (2 ° C – 8 ° C)
As soon as Caspofungin Orion is completed, it should be used immediately. This is because it does not contain any substances that stop bacterial growth. Only trained healthcare professionals who have read the entire instructions for use may complete this medicine (see below “Instructions for dissolving and diluting Caspofungin Orion”).
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.
6. Contents of the packaging and other information
Content declaration
- The active substance is caspofungin. Each vial contains caspofungin acetate equivalent to 50 mg or 70 mg caspofungin.
- The other ingredients are sucrose, mannitol, concentrated acetic acid, and sodium hydroxide.
What the medicine looks like and the contents of the pack
Caspofungin Orion is a sterile, off-white, compact powder.
Caspofungin Orion powder is packaged in a glass vial with a red (50 mg vial ) or orange (70 mg vial ) cap. The vial is further packaged in a carton. Each pack contains one vial.
Marketing Authorization Holder and Manufacturer
Marketing Authorisation Holder
Orion Corporation
Orionintie 1
FI-02200 Espoo
Finland
Manufacturer
Orion Corporation Orion Pharma
Orionintie 1
FI-02200 Espoo
Finland
Pharmathen SA
Dervenakion 6
Pallini 15351
Attic
Greece
Pharmadox Healthcare Ltd.
KW20A Kordin Industrial Park
Paola PLA 3000
Malta
For further information on this medicine, please contact the local representative of the Marketing Authorization Holder in :
Orion Pharma AB
medinfo@orionpharma.com