What is this medicine?
PENTAMIDINE (pen TAM i deen) is an anti-infective drug. It is used to prevent Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP).
This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.
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What side effects may I notice from receiving this medicine?
Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:
- allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue
- breathing problems
- chest pain
- cough
- fast, irregular heartbeat
- feeling faint or lightheaded, falls
- fever, chills
- low blood pressure
- redness, blistering, peeling or loosening of the skin, including inside the mouth
- stomach pain, vomiting
- trouble passing urine or change in the amount of urine
- unusual bleeding or bruising
- unusually weak or tired
- white patches, sores in the mouth
- yellowing of the eyes or skin
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
- diarrhea
- dry mouth
- headache
- metal taste
- muscle pain
- nausea
- night sweats
This list may not describe all possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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How should I use this medicine?
This medicine is used in a nebulizer. Nebulizers make a liquid into an aerosol that you breathe in through your mouth or your mouth and nose into your lungs. It is usually given by a health care professional in a hospital or clinic setting. Take your medicine at regular intervals. Do not use more often than directed. Do not stop using except on the advice of your doctor or health care professional.
Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.
Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine contact a poison control center or emergency room at once.
NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with others.
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What if I miss a dose?
It is important not to miss your dose. Call your doctor or health care professional if you are unable to keep an appointment.
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What may interact with this medicine?
Do not take this medicine with any of the following medications:
- amoxapine
- arsenic trioxide
- certain antibiotics like clarithromycin, erythromycin, gatifloxacin, gemifloxacin, grepafloxacin, moxifloxacin, sparfloxacin
- cidofovir
- cisapride
- droperidol
- haloperidol
- levomethadyl
- maprotiline
- medicines for malaria like chloroquine and halofantrine
- medicines to control heart rhythm
- methadone
- phenothiazines like chlorpromazine, mesoridazine, prochlorperazine, thioridazine
- pimozide
- ranolazine
- tricyclic antidepressants like amitriptyline, imipramine, nortriptyline, and others
- zalcitabine, ddC
- ziprasidone
This medicine may also interact with the following medications:
- abarelix
- alfuzosin
- certain antibiotics like gentamicin, levofloxacin, mefloquine, tobramycin, vancomycin
- cyclobenzaprine
- diuretics
- ganciclovir
- foscarnet
- medicines for depression, anxiety, or psychotic disturbances
- medicines for diabetes
- medicines for nausea like dolasetron, ondansetron, palonosetron
- medicines for sleep during surgery
- medicine to numb skin
- octreotide
- some bowel prep medicines
- some medicines for cancer
- tacrolimus
- vardenafil
This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.
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Who should NOT use this medication?
- Known hypersensitivity to pentamidine or any ingredient in the formulation.
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What should I watch for while using this medicine?
See your doctor for regular check ups. Tell your doctor if you have any breathing problems, fever, or infection. You will need to have important blood work done while you are taking this medicine.
Do not mix this medicine with any other medicines in the nebulizer. Do not use the nebulizer for this medicine to inhale any other medicine.
This medicine can change your blood sugar levels. High blood sugar can cause more thirst and more urine passed, loss of appetite, fruity breath odor, and drowsiness. Low blood sugar can cause hunger, pale skin, headache, anxiety, chills or cold sweats, and shakiness. Call your doctor or health care professional if you think you have a problem with your blood sugar level.
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What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
- asthma
- diabetes
- heart problems
- kidney disease
- smoker
- an unusual or allergic reaction to pentamidine, other medicines, foods, dyed, or preservatives
- pregnant or trying to get pregnant
- breast-feeding
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Can I stop taking the medication if I feel better?
If you have been diagnosed with a disease for which an antibiotic is needed, you must complete the prescribed course of treatment. Even if you start to feel better, do not skip any doses and remember to take the medication until it is all gone.
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I am on so many medications; do I have to take them all?
This is called polypharmacy—many different medications being used at the same time by one person. Sometimes, being on multiple medications is acceptable and appropriate but at other times it may be problematic. If you are receiving your medications from multiple physicians you need to ensure that they all know what medications you are taking. The best way to do this is to make a list of all the medications you are currently using, including all nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs (if possible, also include all the diseases you have been diagnosed with). Give a copy to every doctor who takes care of you so they have it on file, this way they can avoid duplicating medications and perhaps even try to consolidate some. After every doctor's visit remember to update the list accordingly. Also, as much as you possibly can, try to use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, this way any potential drug interactions can be caught and averted.
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Where can I get more information?
More Information
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