Micafungin
Description
Micafungin is an antifungal medicine used for the treatment of fungal infections of the stomach, blood, lungs, and oesophagus. It is also used for the prevention of fungal infections in people undergoing stem cell transplantation. This medicine binds with the fungus cell and kills them.
Micafungin can cause side effects like nausea, vomiting, cough, loss of appetite, etc. Consult your doctor if these side effects are worsening or getting persistent. Avoid driving vehicles and operating machines after receiving this medicine as it can make you feel drowsy.
Micafungin is administered by a qualified healthcare professional in a clinic or a hospital. Your dose and duration of the treatment will be decided on the basis of the severity of your condition. Do not stop receiving this medication without consulting your doctor as your symptoms could reoccur.
Micafungin is not recommended if you are allergic to it. Inform all your current medications and pre-existing medical conditions to your doctor before receiving this medicine. This will help your doctor to adjust your dose for avoiding any side effects. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, inform your doctor before receiving this medicine.
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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Micafungin
- Black or tarry stools
- Cough
- Fever or chills
- Increased thirst
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea or vomiting
- Pale skin
- Shortness of breath
- Weight gain
- Drowsiness
- Bone pain
- Blurred vision
- Headache
- Diarrhoea
Uses of Micafungin
What is it prescribed for?
- Esophageal Candidiasis
- Candidemia
- Acute disseminated candidiasis
- Candida Peritonitis and abscesses
- Prophylaxis in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transfer (HSCT) patients
- Aspergillosis
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Concerns
Commonly asked questions
- Onset of actionThe amount of time required for Micafungin to show its action is not clinically established.
- Duration of effectMicafungin can remain in your body for 3 to 4 days.
- Safe with alcohol?Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
- Is it habit forming?No habit forming tendency has been reported for Micafungin.
- Usage in pregnancy?Micafungin is unsafe for use during pregnancy as it can harm your developing foetus. Hence, consult your doctor if you are pregnant.
- Usage while breast-feeding?Due to the lack of relevant safety information, Micafungin is not recommended for use while breastfeeding. Consult your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
Allergy
Micafungin is not recommended if you are allergic to it. Seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms such as skin rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, breathing difficulty, etc.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
Micafungin is unsafe for use during pregnancy as it can harm your developing foetus. Hence, consult your doctor if you are pregnant.
Breast-feeding
Due to the lack of relevant safety information, Micafungin is not recommended for use while breastfeeding. Consult your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
General warnings
Use in children
Micafungin is not recommended for use in children less than 4 months of age as the safety and efficacy of use are not clinically established.
Missed Dose
Since Micafungin is administered by a qualified healthcare professional in the hospital or clinical setting, the likelihood of missing a dose is very low.
Overdose
Since Micafungin is administered in the hospital or clinical setting by a qualified healthcare professional, the likelihood of an overdose is very low. However, emergency medical treatment will be initiated by the doctor if an overdose is suspected.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Instructions
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine
Sirolimus
Amphotericin B
Disease interactions
Liver Disease
Micafungin is broken down and absorbed in the liver. Therefore, a damaged liver will not break it down properly, resulting in toxicity. Your doctor can adjust your dose or replace it with another medicine according to your condition.
Renal Disease
Micafungin is filtered by your kidneys. If you have kidney problems, this medicine will not get filtered properly, therefore increasing the risk of toxicity. Your doctor can adjust the dose while monitoring your condition closely or suggest another medicine if required.
Anaemia
Anaemia is a condition in which the number of red blood cells or the haemoglobin concentration within them is lower than normal. Micafungin can cause anaemia in some people. Therefore, your doctor will closely monitor your blood cells while you are receiving this medicine.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Micafungin is usually administered by a qualified healthcare professional in the hospital or clinical setting. Inform the doctor if you have a known allergy to this medicine.
Consult your doctor if you experience any change of colour in your urine or any other side effects.
Miscelleneous
How it works
Micafungin slows the growth of the fungi and kills the fungi that cause the infection.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Echinocandins
Schedule
Schedule H
Astellas.us. 2022. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 1 March 2022].
Accessdata.fda.gov. 2022. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 1 March 2022].
Ema.europa.eu. 2022. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 1 March 2022].
Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2022. DailyMed - MYCAMINE- micafungin sodium injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 1 March 2022].
Medicines.org.uk. 2022. Mycamine 100 mg powder for concentrate for solution for infusion - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - (emc). [online] Available at: < [Accessed 1 March 2022].
Information on this page was last updated on 6 Jan 2023
Disclaimer
We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.