Pentamidine : Before Using - Pentam 300, Pentacarinat

Pentamidine - Systemic

Brand Names

Pentam 300, Pentacarinat Pentamidine *** Before Using *** How to Use *** Fore Safe Use *** Side Effects *** Additional Information

Before Using This Medication

In deciding to using a medication, the chance of taking the drug must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you will make. For pentamidine, the following must be considered

Allergic reaction

Tell your family doctor if you have any unusual or allergic reaction to pentamidine. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Diet Make certain your health care professional knows if you are on a low-sodium, low-sugar, or any other special diet. Since most medication contain more than their active ingredient, some products may have to be avoided.

Pregnancy care

Pentamidine has not been studied in pregnant women. However, studies in rabbits have shown an increase in miscarriages and bone defects in the fetus.

Breast-feeding problem

It is not known whether pentamidine passes into breast milk. However, because of the risk of side effects in the newborn, breast-feeding is not recommended during treat with this drug.

Use for Children

Although pentamidine has not been widely using in child, this drug is not expected to cause various side effects or problems in children than it does in adults.

Elderly care

Many medication have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in adults people or if they cause various side effects or problems in elderly people. There is no special info comparing use of pentamidine in the elderly with use in other age groups.

Drug interactions

Although certain medication must not be using together at all, in other cases two various medication may be using together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your family doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving pentamidine, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

Amphotericin B by injection - Fungizone
Antithyroid agents - drug for overactive thyroid
Azathioprine - Imuran
Chloramphenicol - Chloromycetin
Colchicine
Cyclophosphamide - Cytoxan
Flucytosine - Ancobon
Ganciclovir - Cytovene
Interferon - Intron A, Roferon-A
Mercaptopurine - Purinethol
X-ray treat
Zidovudine - AZT, Retrovir
If you have ever been treated with x-rays or cancer drug When taken with pentamidine, these medication may increase the risk of damage to your blood cells

Carmustine - BiCNU
Cisplatin - Platinol
Combination pain drug containing acetaminophen and aspirin - Excedrin or other salicylates - with large amounts taken regularly
Cyclosporine - Sandimmune
Deferoxamine - Desferal - with long-term use
Foscarnet - Foscavir
Gold salts - drug for arthritis
Inflammation or pain drug - except narcotics
Lithium - Lithane
Other anti-infectives by mouth or by injection - drug for infection
Penicillamine - Cuprimine
Streptozocin - Zanosar
Tiopronin - Thiola When taken with pentamidine, these medication may increase the risk of kidney damage

Didanosine - ddI, Videx When taken with pentamidine, didanosine may increase the risk of pancreatitis - inflammation of the pancreas

Methotrexate - Mexate
Plicamycin - Mithracin When taken with pentamidine, these medication may increase the risk of damage to your blood cells and your kidneys

Other Information for using

The presence of other medical problems may effect the use of pentamidine. Make sure you tell your family doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

Anemia
Bleeding disorders - history of
Heart disease
Hypotension - low blood pressure
Kidney disease
Liver disease Pentamidine may make these conditions worse

Diabetes mellitus - sugar diabetes
Hypoglycemia - low blood sugar Pentamidine may increase or decrease blood sugar levels and may disturb control of sugar diabetes