micafungin sodium at a glance
Medicine class
Echinocandin antifungal
Administration
Prepared and given by a healthcare professional as a slow intravenous infusion
Food and drink
No food or drink restrictions are required because it is given intravenously
Specialist use
Treatment should be started by a clinician experienced in managing fungal infections
What is micafungin sodium used for?
The selected UK product is licensed for the following uses when other antifungals are not appropriate:
Treatment of invasive candidiasis in adults and children, including neonates.
Treatment of oesophageal candidiasis in adults and adolescents aged 16 years or older when intravenous treatment is appropriate.
Prevention of Candida infection in adults and children undergoing an allogeneic haematopoietic stem-cell transplant or expected to have prolonged severe neutropenia.
How does micafungin sodium work?
Micafungin blocks production of 1,3-beta-D-glucan, an essential building material in the fungal cell wall that human cells do not contain. This weakens the wall and kills most susceptible Candida species.
micafungin sodium preparations and strengths
Solution for infusion
Route: Intravenous
Strengths: 50 mg, 100 mg
How to take micafungin sodium
Micafungin is not swallowed. A healthcare professional reconstitutes and dilutes the powder before giving it through a vein as a slow infusion.
It must not be self-administered.
The prepared solution is protected from light and should not be mixed or co-infused with unsupported medicines.
Food and drink do not affect administration.
micafungin sodium side effects
Common or expected effects
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea or abdominal pain
- Headache
- Fever, shivering or rash
- Inflammation of the vein at the infusion site
- Changes in liver tests or bilirubin
- Low white or red blood-cell counts
- Low potassium, magnesium or calcium
Get urgent medical advice
- Severe allergic or infusion reaction, including breathing difficulty, swelling or shock
- Blistering, peeling or widespread severe skin reaction
- Liver inflammation, liver failure or jaundice
- Kidney impairment or acute kidney failure
- Breakdown of red blood cells
- Severe blood-cell or clotting abnormalities
micafungin sodium in pregnancy
Human pregnancy data are lacking, and animal studies found reproductive toxicity. Micafungin should be used during pregnancy only when the specialist considers it clearly necessary after weighing the benefits and uncertainties.
micafungin sodium while breastfeeding
It is unknown whether micafungin enters human milk. The prescriber should decide with the patient whether to continue breastfeeding or micafungin, considering the benefit of breastfeeding to the child and treatment to the mother.
micafungin sodium interactions
Micafungin has relatively low interaction potential, but clinically relevant combinations include:
Amphotericin B deoxycholate
Micafungin increases amphotericin exposure; combine only when benefits outweigh risks and monitor closely for amphotericin toxicity.
Sirolimus
Exposure may increase, so monitor for sirolimus toxicity and adjust sirolimus if necessary.
Nifedipine
Exposure may increase, so monitor for nifedipine adverse effects and adjust it if necessary.
Common questions about micafungin sodium
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Is micafungin sodium an antibiotic or an antifungal?
It is an echinocandin antifungal. It targets fungal cell walls rather than bacteria.
Why is micafungin sodium given into a vein?
The licensed product is an intravenous powder formulation and is not available as a tablet or oral liquid.
Which infections can micafungin sodium treat?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.