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Amphotericin B
INFORMATION ABOUT AMPHOTERICIN B
Amphotericin B Uses
Amphotericin B is used in the treatment of severe fungal infections and kala-azar.
How Amphotericin B works
Amphotericin B is an antifungal medication. It kills fungi by destroying the fungal cell membrane.
Common side effects of Amphotericin B
Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them
Common
Nausea, Vomiting, Chills, Headache, Anemia (low number of red blood cells), Decreased potassium level in blood, Abnormal liver function tests, Decreased magnesium level in blood, Diarrhea, Decreased appetite, Hypotension (low blood pressure), Skin rash, Nephrocalcinosis, Increased creatinine level in blood, Abnormal renal function tests, Renal tubular acidosis
CONTENT DETAILS
Written By
Dr. Anuj Saini
MMST, MBBS
Reviewed By
Dr. Lalit Kanodia
MBA, MD Pharmacology
Last updated
28 Mar 2025 | 04:54 AM (UTC)
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Expert advice for Amphotericin B
  • It is usually given as an injection over 1-2 hours under the supervision of a medical professional.
  • Amphotericin B can cause rash, chills, headache, and tiredness during initial days of the treatment, but these may fade away with time.
  • Your doctor may ask you for regular blood tests to monitor your blood sugar, potassium, magnesium and kidney function.
  • Inform your doctor immediately if you notice pain or blood upon urination, swelling of the face and trouble breathing.
  • Inform your doctor if you are pregnant, planning pregnancy or breastfeeding. 
Frequently asked questions for Amphotericin B
Amphotericin B is fungicidal in nature, it acts by killing the fungus
Amphotericin B is not light sensitive
Liposomal Amphotericin B is a lipid-associated formulation. Liposomal encapsulation or incorporation into a lipid complex of Amphotericin B can substantially improves drug safety especially nephrotoxicity associated with the drug
Yes, Amphotericin B is an antifungal antibiotic for the treatment of serious infections caused by fungi like fungal infections of one or more deep organs of the body, suspected fungal infections in patients with a raised temperature and neutropenia (reduced number of white blood cells [neutrophils]) and Visceral leishmaniasis (disease caused by a parasite)
Yes, administration of Amphotericin B is associated with allergy (severe and serious allergic) reaction, therefore it is recommended to administer a test dose before starting the therapy to check for sensitivity
Amphotericin B is either administered as intravenous injection or infusion by a registered medical professional only
Amphotericin B can disrupt the lipid components of human kidney cells, thereby causing nephrotoxicity. The exact mechanism of hypokalemia is not known, but kidney damage may result in excessive loss of potassium in urine.