Formulary
Caspofungin: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Caspofungin clinical drug profile including indications, dosing, side effects, cautions and interactions.
MedNext Academy | 3 min read
Caspofungin: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Caspofungin clinical drug profile including indications, dosing, side effects, cautions and interactions.
Indications and dose
**Invasive aspergillosis,Invasive candidiasis,Empirical treatment of systemic fungal infections in patients with neutropenia**
- **Adult** (By Intravenous Infusion): (body-weight 81 kg and above) 70 mg once daily.
**Invasive aspergillosis, Invasive candidiasis, Empirical treatment of systemic fungal infections in patients with neutropenia for caspofungin**
- **Neonate** (By intravenous infusion): 25 mg/m2 once daily.
- **Child 1-2 months** (By intravenous infusion): 25 mg/m2 once daily.
- **Child 3-11 months** (By intravenous infusion): 50 mg/m2 once daily.
- **Child 1-17 years** (By intravenous infusion): Loading dose 70 mg/m2 once daily (max. per dose 70 mg) for 1 day, then maintenance 50 mg/m2 once daily (max. per dose 70 mg); increased if necessary to 70 mg/m2 once daily (max. per dose 70 mg), dose may be increased if lower dose tolerated but inadequate response.
Side effects
Common or very common Arthralgia; diarrhoea; dyspnoea; electrolyte imbalance; fever; headache; hyperhidrosis; nausea; skin reactions; vomiting Uncommon Anaemia; anxiety; appetite decreased; arrhythmias; ascites; chest discomfort; coagulation disorder; congestive heart failure; constipation; cough; disorientation; dizziness; drowsiness; dry mouth; dysphagia; excessive tearing; eyelid oedema; fatigue; flatulence; fluid overload; flushing; gastrointestinal discomfort; haematuria; hepatic disorders; hyperbilirubinaemia; hyperglycaemia; hypertension; hypotension; hypoxia; induration; insomnia; laryngeal pain; leucopenia; malaise; metabolic acidosis; muscle weakness; myalgia; nasal congestion; oedema; pain; palpitations; renal impairment; respiratory disorders; sensation abnormal; taste altered; thrombocytopenia; thrombophlebitis; tremor; vision blurred Frequency not known Severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs)
Interactions
**Other interactions (3):**
- Antifungals (e.g.
- After two weeks of repeated administration of rifampicin, trough levels of caspofungin were 30% lower than in adult subjects who received caspofungin alone.
- Caspofungin May decrease tacrolimus whole blood trough concentrations and increase the risk of rejection.
Pregnancy
Manufacturer advises avoid unless essential-toxicity in animal studies.
Breast feeding
Present in milk in animal studies-manufacturer advises avoid.
Hepatic impairment
No information available for severe impairment. Dose adjustments 70 mg on first day then 35 mg once daily in moderate impairment.
Medicinal forms
Clinical governance
**Author:** MedNext Clinical Team. **Clinical reviewer:** Dr Shameer Deen, MBBS, MS, MRCS. **Sources:** BNF, Indian Pharmacopoeia, CIMS India. **Correction:** Report errors at support@mednext.academy.
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