Pentacarinat 300 mg
Pentamidine Isetionate
Please read this leaflet carefully BEFORE you receive your Pentacarinat. This leaflet is a summary of the important information about your medication. If you have any questions or are not sure about anything to do with your treatment, ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
What Is In Pentacarinat?
The active ingredient in this medicine is Pentamidine Isetionate 300mg. This is the new name for Pentamidine Isethionate 300mg. The ingredient itself has not changed.
The active ingredient is pentamidine isetionate 300mg.
(This is equivalent to 172.4 mg pentamidine base).
You must not take this medicine if you know that you are allergic to Pentamidine.
Pentacarinat is available in cartons containing 5 glass vials each of 300 mg. It has actions against lung infections and other diseases caused by parasites.
The marketing authorisation is held by
The product is manufactured by
Why Have You Been Prescribed Pentacarinat ?
Pentacarinat is normally used for the treatment of pneumonia (a lung infection) caused by a microscopic parasite (Pneumocystis carinii) and prevention of further attacks of this lung infection in patients infected by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). It is also used for the treatment of diseases of the skin or organs caused by other parasites (Leishmania and Trypanosoma gambiense). If you need any further information on your condition, please ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Before You Are Given Your Medication
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following apply:
- Have you had an allergic reaction after taking Pentacarinat in the past?
- Are you pregnant, planning a pregnancy, or suspect you could be pregnant? Miscarriage has been reported during the first trimester (three months) of pregnancy.
- Are you breast-feeding?
- Do you have liver or kidney problems?
- If you have abnormal salt levels in your blood, particularly due to too low a level of potassium (hypokalaemia) or too low a level of magnesium (hypomagnesaemia)
- Do you have high or low blood pressure?
- If you have a slow heart beat (bradycardia) or an irregular heartbeat
- If you have any other heart diseases
- Do you have a high or low blood sugar level?
- Do you have a low white blood cell count (have an unexplained infection or fever)?
- Do you have anaemia (look pale or feel tired)?
- Does your blood take a long time to clot or do you have unexplained brusing?
- Do you have asthma?
- Do you smoke?
- Do you have breathing problems?
- Have you had a pneumothorax (collapsed lung) before?
If you have to go to a doctor, dentist or hospital for any reason, tell them that you are taking Pentacarinat. Certain medicines can cause “QT prolongation” (irregular heartbeat recognisable on your ECG) including phenothiazines (for
mood/thought disorders), tricyclic antidepressants (for depression), terfenadine and astemizole (antihistamines for allergies), antibiotics such as erythromycin or quinolones (e.g. ciprofloxacin), and halofantrine (for malaria). It is important to discuss all of your current medication (including medicines that you may have bought without a prescription) with your doctor before taking Pentacarinat. Before you are given Pentacarinat by injection you should have your blood
pressure measured and have a number of blood tests performed.You may also have an electrocardiogram (ECG) to check on your heart rhythm (beat).
How Your Medicine Will Be Given
Pentacarinat is mixed with Water for Injections or other appropriate fluids. You will receive this medication either by injection or inhalation. To receive the injection you will be lying down. For inhalation, the medicine is placed
in a device called a nebuliser. Air or oxygen is piped into the nebuliser which converts the medication into a fine mist or spray which you then inhale. It is dangerous for other people to receive this medication. For this reason other people should not be in the same room when you are using the nebuliser. The following dosages are for adults, children and infants.
By inhalation for the treatment of pneumonia caused by Pneumocystis carinii, 2 x 300mg vials in 6ml Water for Injections are given once daily for 3 weeks. For the prevention of further lung infection the adult dosage is 300 mg every
4 weeks, or 150 mg every 2 weeks.
The following table gives the dosage for treatment by injection according to body weight:
- Lung infection: 4 mg/kg by slow intravenous infusion once a day for 14 days
- Infection of the organs by Leishmania: 3-4 mg/kg by intramuscular injection on alternate days to a maximum of 10 injections
- Infection of the skin by Leishmania: 3-4 mg/kg once or twice weekly by intramuscular injection until the condition resolves
- Infection by Trypanosoma gambiense: 4 mg/kg intramuscular or by slow intravenous infusion once daily or alternate days for a total of 7-10 injections
Does Pentacarinat Have Side Effects ?
As well as benefits, all medicines may occasionally have some unwanted effects in some patients. These are called side effects.
Serious side effects can occur resulting from low blood pressure, low blood sugar level, low white blood cell count, blood clotting problems, kidney failure, low calcium levels in the blood, severe skin reactions (including Stevens-Johnson
syndrome), inflammation of the pancreas and an irregular heart beat. However, you will be closely monitored for the development of any possible side effects. If you notice any of the following, or an increase in any of the following, tell
your doctor immediately:
- Yellowing of the skin and eyes
- Flushing
- Any unexplained infection or fever (particularly with a low blood white cell count)
- If you feel dizzy when standing up
- Any heart problems including irregular or rapid heartbeat
- Any difficulties with breathing
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Blood in urine
- Abdominal pain
- Muscle spasm/twitch
- Pain, or a lump or abscess where you have been injected
- Cough
- Wheezing
- Rash
- Decrease in appetite
- Altered taste
- Tiredness
- Easy bruising
- Bleeding gums or nose
- Heavy periods
Rarely, muscle damage can occur. As this can be serious and can affect your kidneys, if you develop any unexplained muscle pain, tenderness or weakness, report this immediately to your doctor.
All medicines may have unwanted effects which are not mentioned in the product leaflet. If you notice any other changes in your health whilst being given this medicine, tell your doctor immediately.
Expiry Date
You must not receive the medication after the expiry date.
This is given in two places:
- on the carton
- on the vial label.
In both places it is given as ‘EXP’ followed by the month and year. The medication should not be given after the end of that month. If you are not sure when this is, check with your doctor or pharmacist.
Storage Of Pentacarinat
Your Pentacarinat Injection will have been stored below 30°C.
Store the reconstituted product (for intravenous infusion) at 2-8°C. Use within 24 hours.
Pentacarinat is a trademark.
This leaflet was written in October 2006.
© 2006
89017275
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