Posaconazole
Consumer Medicine Information
NOTICE: This Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) is intended for persons living in Australia. This page contains answers to some common questions about . It does not contain all the information that is known about . It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist. All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risk of you using this medicine against the benefits he/she expects it will have for you. If you have any concerns about using this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Bookmark or print this page, you may need to read it again.
What NOXAFIL Oral Suspension is used for
NOXAFIL Oral Suspension contains the active ingredient, posaconazole. Posaconazole is a medicine that belongs to the triazole group of antifungal medicines.
NOXAFIL Oral Suspension works by killing or stopping the growth of the fungi causing these infections.
NOXAFIL Oral Suspension is used for:
The treatment of invasive aspergillosis, a fungal infection caused by a fungus called aspergillus
The treatment of other serious fungal infections called fusariosis, zygomycosis, chromoblastomycosis and mycetoma.
The treatment of superficial fungal infections of the mouth and throat called oropharyngeal candidiasis.
These types of fungal infections usually occur in some patients who may have lowered resistance to infection due to poor immunity.
Treatment of these serious fungal infections with NOXAFIL Oral Suspension is usually reserved for patients who do not respond to or cannot tolerate other medicines used to treat these types of fungal infections.
NOXAFIL Oral Suspension is also used to treat coccidioidomycosis, a rare and serious fungal infection.
NOXAFIL Oral Suspension is also used to prevent fungal infections, such as yeasts and moulds, from occurring in patients who are at high-risk of developing these infections.
Your doctor may have prescribed NOXAFIL Oral Suspension for another reason.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why NOXAFIL Oral Suspension has been prescribed for you.
This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.
Before you take NOXAFIL Oral Suspension
When you must not take it
Do not take NOXAFIL Oral Suspension if:
1. you have an allergy to:
posaconazole or any other triazole antifungal medicines
any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet (See Product Description)
Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include skin rash, itching, hives, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, tongue or other parts of the body.
2. you are pregnant or may become pregnant.
Do not take NOXAFIL Oral Suspension if you are taking any of the following medicines:
certain medicines used to treat allergy or hay fever (terfenadine or astemizole)
cisapride, a medicine used to treat certain stomach problems
pimozide, a medicine used to treat certain mental disorders
quinidine, a medicine used to treat irregular heart beat
ergotamine and dihydroergotamine, which are medicines used to treat migraine
halofantrine, a medicine used to treat malaria.
NOXAFIL Oral Suspension is not recommended for children below the age of 13 years.
Do not take NOXAFIL Oral Suspension if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
Do not take NOXAFIL Oral Suspension if the expiry date (EXP) printed on the pack has passed.
If you take NOXAFIL Oral Suspension after the expiry date has passed, it may not work (as well). Return this medicine to your pharmacist for disposal if it has expired or is damaged.
If you are not sure whether you should start taking NOXAFIL Oral Suspension, talk to your doctor.
Before you start to take it
Tell your doctor if:
1. you have any allergies to any other medicines, especially other antifungal medicines such as itraconazole (Sporanox®), fluconazole (Diflucan®), voriconazole (Vfend®), ketoconazole (Nizoral®) or any other substances such as foods, preservatives or dyes.
2. you have or have ever had any other health problems/ medical conditions including:
any kidney problems
any liver problems
any heart problems
Follow your doctor's advice if any blood tests to check on your kidney or liver are recommended.
3. you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
NOXAFIL Oral Suspension should not be taken during pregnancy unless indicated by your doctor. Women who are of childbearing potential should use effective contraception while taking NOXAFIL Oral Suspension. Your doctor can discuss the risks and benefits.
NOXAFIL Oral Suspension should not be taken by breastfeeding women. It is possible that the active ingredient, posaconazole, may be passed into the breast milk. Your doctor can discuss the risks and benefits involved.
If you have not told your doctor or pharmacist about any of the above, tell them before you start taking NOXAFIL Oral Suspension.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including medicines you buy without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines may interfere with NOXAFIL Oral Suspension. These include:
warfarin, a medicine used to prevent blood clots
rifabutin, a medicine used to treat tuberculosis
phenytoin, a medicine used to treat fits or convulsions
cimetidine and proton-pump inhibitors such as omeprazole, medicines used to treat stomach ulcers.
vinca alkaloids, used in the treatment of cancer
cyclosporin, tacrolimus and sirolimus, used to treat certain immune system problems or to prevent organ transplant rejection
midazolam and other benzodiazepine medicines used to treat anxiety or sleeplessness
HMG-Co-A reductase inhibitors such as simvastatin, lovastatin and atorvastatin, which are used to lower cholesterol
calcium channel blockers, such as diltiazem, nifedipine and verapamil, used in certain heart conditions and to lower blood pressure
These medicines may be affected by NOXAFIL Oral Suspension or may affect how well it works. You may need different amounts of your medicine or you may need to take different medicines. Your doctor will advise you.
Taking NOXAFIL Oral Suspension
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor and pharmacist carefully.
This information may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
If you do not understand the instructions on the box / bottle label, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.
Shake the bottle well before use.
How much to take
Adults
Treatment of invasive fungal infections (aspergillosis, coccidioidomycosis, fusariosis, zygomycosis chromoblastomycosis and mycetoma):
The usual dose for adults is 10 mL twice a day.
Treatment of oropharyngeal candidiasis:
The usual dose for adults is 5 mL once on the first day, then take 2.5mL once daily for 13 days.
Prevention of invasive fungal infections:
The usual dose for adults is 5 mL three times a day.
A measuring spoon is supplied with the medicine.
The dose may vary from one patient to another. Your doctor may recommend a different dose depending on your condition.
Children
NOXAFIL Oral Suspension is not recommended for children below the age of 13 years.
When to take it
You should take NOXAFIL Oral Suspension with a meal or a nutritional supplement. Taking this medication with food containing fat will improve absorption.
How long to take it
Your doctor will advise how long you should take NOXAFIL Oral Suspension.
Continue taking NOXAFIL Oral Suspension for the length of time that your doctor recommends.
Directions for opening the bottle
NOXAFIL Oral Suspension comes with a child-resistant cap. It can be opened by pushing down on the plastic screw cap while turning it anti-clockwise.
If you forget to take it
Take the dose you missed as soon as you remember, then continue to take it as you normally would.
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to.
Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose you have missed.
If you have trouble remembering to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints.
If you have taken too much (overdose)
Immediately telephone your doctor or Poisons Information Centre or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital, if you think you or anyone else may have taken too much NOXAFIL Oral Suspension. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention.
Keep these telephone numbers handy:
Poisons Information Centres:
Australia: 13 11 26
New Zealand: 0800 POISON or 0800 764 766
While you are taking NOXAFIL Oral Suspension
Things you must do
Always follow your doctor's instructions carefully.
If you are a woman of childbearing age, talk to your doctor about the need for effective contraception. Once you have finished taking NOXAFIL Oral Suspension, continue using contraception until your next period.
If you become pregnant while you are taking NOXAFIL Oral Suspension, tell your doctor immediately.
If you are about to start any other new medicine, tell your doctor that you are taking NOXAFIL Oral Suspension.
If you need to have any blood tests, tell your doctor you are using NOXAFIL Oral Suspension. NOXAFIL Oral Suspension may affect the results of some laboratory tests.
Tell all doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking NOXAFIL Oral Suspension.
Things you must not do
Do not give NOXAFIL Oral Suspension to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.
Do not use NOXAFIL Oral Suspension to treat any other medical complaints unless your doctor tells you to.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking NOXAFIL Oral Suspension.
All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor if you experience any of the following:
Loss of appetite
Sleeplessness
Headache, dizziness, sleepiness
Tingling in fingers or toes
Hot flushes
Upset stomach, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhoea, gas from stomach or bowel, dry mouth, altered sense of taste.
Dry skin, rash, itchiness
Back pain
Fever.
If any of the following happen, stop taking NOXAFIL Oral Suspension and tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital:
rash, itchiness, hives
swelling of the face, lips, mouth, throat or neck which may cause difficulty swallowing or breathing
tingling or numbness of the hands or feet, or muscle weakness.
These are very serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention. These side effects are rare.
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. Tell your doctor if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell.
After taking NOXAFIL Oral Suspension
Storage
Keep NOXAFIL Oral Suspension in the bottle until it is time to take it.
Keep NOXAFIL Oral Suspension in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25 degrees C.
Do not freeze NOXAFIL Oral Suspension.
Protect NOXAFIL Oral Suspension from light.
Do not store NOXAFIL Oral Suspension or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink. Do not leave it in the car or on window sills. Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep NOXAFIL Oral Suspension and all other medicines where children cannot reach them.
A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop taking NOXAFIL Oral Solution, or if it has passed the expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any left over medicine.
Product description
What it looks like
NOXAFIL Oral Suspension is a white liquid.
It is supplied in an amber glass bottle with a child-resistant cap. Each bottle contains 105 mL of suspension. A measuring spoon graduated to measure 2.5 mL and 5 mL is included with each bottle.
Ingredients
NOXAFIL Oral Suspension contains 40 mg posaconazole (the active ingredient) per mL of suspension.
Other inactive ingredients are polysorbate 80, simethicone, sodium benzoate, sodium citrate dihydrate, citric acid monohydrate, glycerol, xanthan gum, liquid glucose, titanium dioxide, artificial cherry flavouring, and purified water.
NOXAFIL Oral Suspension does not contain lactose, gluten, tartrazine or any other azo dyes.
Sponsor
Australia:
Schering-Plough Pty Limited
Level 4, 66 Waterloo Road
North Ryde NSW 2113
Telephone: 02 8988 8000
Australian Registration Number: AUST R 115556
This leaflet was prepared on
8 May 2008
