| Pharmacy Drug Brand Name: | Cancidas® |
| Active Ingredient(s): | caspofungin |
| Strength(s) / Dose(s): | 50 mg and 70 mg single use vials |
| Delivery / Dosage Form(s): | Intravenous injection |
| Company Manufacturer Name: | Merck & Co. |
| Availability / Prescription: | Prescription only, Professional use only |
| Date Approved by FDA *: | January 29, 2001 |
* Approval by the FDA does not necessarily mean that this drug is available for consumers at this time.
What is Cancidas used for?
Cancidas is used to treat a possibly fatal fungal infection (invasive aspergillosis) in adults who are unsuccessful with or cannot tolerate standard treatments such as amphotericin B, lipid formulations of amphotericin B, and/or itraconazole. Cancidas was not studied as an initial treatment for invasive aspergillosis.
Who should not use Cancidas?
You should not use Cancidas if you are allergic to Cancidas or to any of the ingredients in Cancidas.
General Precautions:
Because the use of Cancidas with cyclosporin may temporarily increase liver enzymes, this combination should only be used when the potential benefit outweighs the potential risk.
What should I tell my health care (healthcare) provider?
Tell your health care (healthcare) provider if you:
- have or had liver problems
- are trying to become pregnant, are already pregnant, or are breast-feeding
Tell your health care (healthcare) provider about all the medicines you are taking including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Some medicines may affect how Cancidas works or Cancidas may affect how your other medicines work. Be sure to tell your health care (healthcare) provider if you take tacrolimus (Prograf®) or medicines called antivirals.
What are some possible side effects of Cancidas? (This is not a comprehensive list of possible side effects assosciated with Cancidas. Your doctor or pharmacist can provide expert advice on the possible side effects of this drug.)
Cancidas and other medicines like it can cause a serious allergic reaction. Signs of a serious allergic reaction are:
- sudden problems breathing
- swelling of your lips or tongue
- sudden cough
- hives
- rash
Other side effects include:
- fever
- injection site reactions
- nausea
- flushing
- vomiting