Pentamidine, Injection/Inhalation pen-TAM-ih-deen

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: anti-infective

Generic and brand names: pentamidine, inhalation; pentamidine, injection; NebuPent; Pentam 300

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is given by injection (shots) to treat a certain type of pneumonia (called PCP). It may also be inhaled to prevent PCP. It may be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• an irregular heart beat (arrhythmia)
• asthma
• bleeding problems or a blood disorder
• diabetes
• heart disease or heart attack
• kidney or liver disease
• low blood sugar
• low or high blood pressure
• pancreatitis
• problems with high or low blood levels of calcium or potassium

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I use it?

The shots are given by your healthcare provider, usually once a day for 14 days. The inhalations are given every 4 weeks using a nebulizer to deliver the medicine to the lungs. You will be monitored closely while you are receiving this medicine.

What if I miss a dose?

Do not miss an appointment to receive a dose. If you miss a dose, contact your healthcare provider to reschedule your dose.

What should I watch out for?

You may develop a cough or shortness of breath during or after the inhalation treatment. Report these to your healthcare provider right away.

You will need to have blood tests and blood pressure checks to find out how the medicine is affecting you. Keep all your appointments for these tests.

This medicine may make you feel dizzy or faint, especially when you get up quickly after sitting or lying down. Getting up slowly may help. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you have received this medicine.

Diabetics: This medicine may increase or decrease your blood sugar levels. Be sure the healthcare provider who prescribed this medicine is aware of your diabetes, and follow all instructions regarding your diet or diabetes medicine (insulin or oral medicines for diabetes).

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Shortness of breath after an inhalation; unusual bruising or bleeding; seizures; fast or irregular heartbeat; severe stomach pain; severe dizziness or fainting; pain or swelling at the spot where an injection was given; severe skin redness, blisters, or itching; increased or decreased urinating; unusual weakness or tiredness; increased thirst; confusion; hallucinations.

Other: Nausea, vomiting, bad taste in your mouth, decreased appetite, night sweats, chills, fever, dizziness, headache, trouble sleeping, drowsiness, facial numbness, dry mouth, sore throat, hoarseness, blurred vision.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• amphotericin B
• antiarrhythmics (medicines to treat irregular heartbeat) such as amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), disopyramide (Norpace), dofetilide (Tikosyn), flecainide (Tambocor), propafenone (Rythmol), procainamide, quinidine and sotalol (Betapace)
• antibiotics such as amikacin, clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin (Ery-Tabs, E.E.S.), gemifloxacin (Factive), gentamicin, levofloxacin (Levaquin), moxifloxacin (Avelox), rifampin (Rifadin), tobramycin, and vancomycin (Vancocin)
• antidepressants such as amitriptyline, desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin, fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine (Luvox CR), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), and trazodone
• anti-HIV medicines such as delavirdine (Rescriptor) and efavirenz (Sustiva)
• antipsychotic drugs such as chlorpromazine, fluphenazine, haloperidol (Haldol), pimozide (Orap), quetiapine (Seroquel), risperidone (Risperdal), thioridazine, and ziprasidone (Geodon)
• antiseizure medicines such as carbamazepine (Tegretol) and phenytoin (Dilantin)
• diabetes medicines such as chlorpropamide, glimepiride (Amaryl), glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase), insulin, metformin (Glucophage), pioglitazone (Actos), repaglinide (Prandin), rosiglitazone (Avandia), and tolbutamide
• dolasetron (Anzemet)
• foscarnet (Foscavir))
• methadone (Dolophine, Methadose)
• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) such as diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam), ibuprofen (Motrin, Motrin IB, Advil), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen, ketorolac (Toradol), nabumetone (Relafen), naproxen (Naprosyn, Anaprox, Aleve, Naprelan), oxaprozin (Daypro), piroxicam (Feldene), and sulindac (Clinoril)

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.