Pentamidine
Generic name: pentamidine [ pen-TAM-e-deen ]
Brand names: Nebupent, Pentam 300
Dosage forms: inhalation powder for reconstitution (300 mg); injectable powder for injection (300 mg)
Drug classes:Inhaled anti-infectives, Miscellaneous antibiotics
What is pentamidine?
Pentamidine is an antifungal medication that fights infections caused by fungus.
Pentamidine is used to prevent and treat pneumonia caused by Pneumocystis jiroveci (carinii).
Pentamidine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Warnings
Follow all directions on your medicine label and package. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all medicines you use.
Before taking this medicine
You should not use pentamidine if you are allergic to it.
To make sure pentamidine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:
high or low blood pressure;
a heart rhythm disorder;
diabetes, or low blood sugar (hypoglycemia);
a pancreas disorder;
a severe skin rash called Stevens-Johnson syndrome;
anemia (low red blood cells);
low white blood cells or low platelets in your blood;
low levels of calcium or high levels of potassium in your blood;
liver or kidney disease; or
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether pentamidine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication.
It is not known whether pentamidine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while using pentamidine.
Inhaled pentamidine should not be given to a child without the advice of a doctor.
How is pentamidine given?
Pentamidine is given either as an injection, or as in inhaled medicine using a nebulizer. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not use this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.
Pentamidine is a powder medicine that must be mixed with a liquid (diluent) before using it as an i...
