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Overview: Amphotericin B is intravenous (IV) medicine used to treat certain fungal or parasite infections. Common side effects include fever, chills, low blood pressure, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, headache, or breathing problems. Serious side effects are less likely but may include kidney damage or infusion reactions. Notify your health care provider right away if you feel unusually weak or tired or have any trouble breathing while you are using amphotericin B.

Uses

What is amphotericin B used for?

Amphotericin B is commonly used to treat certain fungal infections as well as a type of parasite infection known as leishmaniasis.

Amphotericin B may not be appropriate for some fungal infections, depending on which fungi are causing the infection. Fungi in some locations may have developed resistance to micafungin, which will make it not work as well.

Amphotericin B may also be used for other conditions as determined by your health care provider.

How does amphotericin B work (mechanism of action)?

For fungal infections, amphotericin B kills certain types of fungi by disrupting their cell structure. For leishmaniasis, amphotericin B seems to kill the parasite by causing damage to the parasite’s membrane.

How is amphotericin B supplied (dosage forms)?

Brands and other names

  • Abelcet
  • AmBisome
  • Amphotec
  • Fungizone

Dosage forms and strengths

Amphotericin B is available in an injectable form that is given by a health care provider.

How should I store amphotericin B?

Amphotericin B is usually given by a health care provider in a hospital or clinic. If you will store amphotericin B at home, follow the instructions given by your health care provider.

Side Effects

What are the most common side effects of amphotericin B?

The most common side effects of amphotericin B are listed below. Tell your health care provider if you have any of these side effects that bother you.

  • Fever and chills
  • Tiredness or weakness
  • Changes in blood pressure (high or low)
  • Chest, muscle, or joint pain
  • Breathing problems
  • Fast heartbeat
  • Loss of appetite
  • Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, upset stomach, or stomach pain
  • Changes in laboratory test results
  • Anemia
  • Pain or inflammation at the infusion site
  • Headache
  • Kidney damage (see below)

There may be other side effects of amphotericin B that are not listed here. Contact your health care provider if you think you are having a side effect of a medicine. In the U.S., you can report side effects to the FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch or by calling 800-FDA-1088. In Canada, you can report side effects to Health Canada at www.health.gc.ca/medeffect or by calling 866-234-2345.

What are the serious side effects of amphotericin B?

While less common, the most serious side effects of amphotericin B are described below, along with what to do if they happen.

Severe Allergic Reactions. Amphotericin B may cause allergic reactions, which can be serious. Stop using amphotericin B and get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction.

  • Breathing problems or wheezing
  • Racing heart
  • Fever or general ill feeling
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat
  • Trouble swallowing or throat tightness
  • Itching, skin rash, or pale red bumps on the skin called hives
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Dizziness, feeling lightheaded, or fainting
  • Stomach cramps
  • Joint pain

Infusion Reactions. Amphotericin B can cause reactions that can be serious when it is given to you. Your infusion may need to be slowed or stopped if you have these reactions. Tell your health care provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms when you get your infusion.

  • Fever or chills
  • Low blood pressure
  • Loss of appetite
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Headache
  • Breathing problems

Kidney Damage. Kidney damage can happen when using amphotericin B. Call your health care provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of kidney damage.

  • Reduced need to pee
  • Swelling in your feet, ankles, or legs
  • Weakness or unusual tiredness
  • Difficulty catching your breath or chest pain/pressure
  • Confusion
  • Nausea
  • Seizures

Brain Disease. People using amphotericin B may develop a rare brain disease called leukoencephalopathy. Leukoencephalopathy is very serious and can lead to death. Stop using amphotericin B and call your health care provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of leukoencephalopathy.

  • Clumsiness or loss of coordination
  • Difficulty walking or speaking
  • Facial drooping
  • Vision problems
  • Thinking, memory, or personality changes
  • Weakness on one side of your body that gets worse
  • Seizures 

Warnings & Precautions

Who should not use amphotericin B?

Allergies to Ingredients. People who are allergic to any of the following should not use amphotericin B.

  • Abelcet
  • AmBisome
  • Amphotec
  • Amphotericin B
  • Fungizone
  • Any of the ingredients in the specific product dispensed

Your pharmacist can tell you all of the ingredients in the specific amphotericin B products they stock.

What should I know about amphotericin B before using it?

Amphotericin B is usually given by a health care provider in a hospital or clinic. 

What should I tell my health care provider before using amphotericin B?

Tell your health care provider about all of your health conditions and any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. This will help them determine if amphotericin B is right for you.

In particular, make sure that you discuss any of the following.

Other Medicines and Supplements. Amphotericin B may interact with other medicines and supplements. Before using amphotericin B, tell your health care provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. See the Interactions section for more details.

Kidney Problems. Tell your health care provider if you have kidney problems. Your health care provider may monitor your kidney function more closely while you are receiving amphotericin B.

Pregnancy. It is not known if or how amphotericin B could affect pregnancy or harm a fetus. Tell your health care provider if you are or plan to become pregnant.

Breastfeeding. It is not known if amphotericin B passes into breast milk. Tell your health care provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Your health care provider will advise you if you should stop breastfeeding or stop amphotericin B.

Interactions

Does amphotericin B interact with foods or drinks?

There are no known interactions between amphotericin B and foods or drinks.

It is unknown if drinking alcohol will affect amphotericin B, but heavy drinking can slow your immune response and make it harder for your body to fight infection.

Does amphotericin B interact with other medicines (drug interactions)?

Always tell your health care provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using.

In particular, make sure that you discuss if you are using any of the following before using amphotericin B.

  • Chemotherapy, which is a medicine used to treat certain cancers
  • A corticosteroid (such as dexamethasone, methylprednisolone, or prednisone) or corticotropin, which are medicines for certain inflammatory conditions
  • Digoxin (Lanoxin), which is a medicine used to treat irregular heartbeat and some types of heart failure
  • Fluconazole (Diflucan), flucytosine, itraconazole (Sporanox, Tolsura), ketoconazole, posaconazole (Noxafil), or voriconazole (Vfend), which are medicines used for fungal infections
  • An aminoglycoside antibiotic, such as amikacin or gentamicin, which is given by injection to treat infections
  • Cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune, and others), which is a medicine that suppresses your immune system
  • Pentamidine, which is an anti-infective medicine
  • Zidovudine, which is a medicine for HIV

This may not be a complete list of medicines that can interact with amphotericin B. Always check with your health care provider.

Does interact with other drugs you are taking?

Enter your medication into the WebMD interaction checker

Overdose/Missed Dose

What should I do if I accidentally use too much amphotericin B?

If you or someone else has used too much amphotericin B, get medical help right away, call 911, or contact a Poison Control center at 800-222-1222.

What should I do if I miss a dose of amphotericin B?

Amphotericin B is usually given by a health care provider in a hospital or clinic. Your health care provider will make sure you are receiving amphotericin B as scheduled. If you miss an appointment to get your amphotericin B dose, call to make another appointment as soon as possible.