Adult Dosing
Pneumocystitis carinii pneumonia (PCP) prophylaxis
- 300 mg NEB q4 wks, using a Respirgard II jet nebulizer
Note: Reconstitute 1 vial with 6 mL sterile water. Do not mix with other nebulized medications
Pediatric Dosing
Pneumocystitis carinii pneumonia (PCP) prophylaxis
Patients >16 yrs
- 300 mg NEB q4 wks, using a Respirgard II jet nebulizer
Note: Reconstitute 1 vial with 6 mL sterile water. Do not mix with other nebulized medications
- Treatment with pentamidine may result in severe hypotension, hypoglycemia, acute pancreatitis and cardiac arrhythmias
- Closely monitor patients for the development of serious adverse reactions
- Extrapulmonary infection may occur
- Cautiously administer in patients with hypetension, hypotension, ventricular tachycardia, hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, hypocalcemia, pancreatitis, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia, hepatic or renal dysfunction and Stevens-Johnson syndrome
- To avoid severe hypotension patients receiving the therapy should be lying down and the blood pressure should be monitored closely during administration and thereafter
- Closely monitor blood glucose levels daily during therapy and thereafter because pentamidine-induced hyperglycemia may occur
Cautions: Use cautiously in
- Renal impairment
- Concomitant nephrotoxic drugs
- Hepatic impairment
- Hypotension
- Tachycardia
- Hypoglycemia
- Thrombocytopenia
- Anemia
- Hyperglycemia
- Diabetes mellitus
- Hypertension
- Leukopenia
- Hypocalcemia
- Pancreatitis history
Pregnancy Category:C
Breastfeeding: Unsafe. Due to the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants, manufacturer recommends discontinuation of nursing or discontinuation of drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.
