Eraxis Injection: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Eraxis Injection (anidulafungin) is a prescription echinocandin antifungal medicine given through a vein (IV). It is used to treat serious candida yeast infections, including candidemia, intra-abdominal infections, and esophageal candidiasis, in adults and children at least 1 month old. It works by blocking an enzyme fungi need to build their cell walls, stopping fungal growth. It is given as a slow IV infusion by a health care provider in a hospital or clinic setting.

What is Eraxis Injection

Eraxis is a prescription antifungal medicine given through a vein (IV). It is used to treat serious yeast (candida) infections in adults and children at least 1 month old.

Eraxis Injection uses

• Treats candidemia (candida yeast infection in the blood) and other candida infections such as intra-abdominal abscess and peritonitis in adults and children 1 month of age and older
• Treats candida infections of the esophagus (esophageal candidiasis) in adults

Benefits of Eraxis Injection

• Treats Candida bloodstream infections
• Helps treat invasive Candida infections
• Treats certain abdominal fungal infections
• Treats esophageal candidiasis in adults
• Provides IV treatment for serious fungal infections

How Eraxis Injection works

Eraxis works by blocking an enzyme that fungi need to build their cell walls. Without this enzyme working properly, the fungal cell wall cannot form correctly, which stops the fungus from growing. This enzyme is found in fungi but not in human cells, so it specifically targets the fungus.

Eraxis Injection dosage

Eraxis is given as a slow infusion into a vein by a health care provider in a hospital or clinic setting. It must be mixed with a diluent liquid and then further diluted in an IV bag before use; it should not be mixed with other solutions or given together with other medicines or electrolytes in the same line.

The infusion is given slowly and can take from about 45 minutes up to 3 hours to complete, depending on the dose. Children may need an infusion pump or special syringe to control the amount given, based on their weight.

Treatment is usually continued for a period of time after symptoms clear up or after lab tests show the infection is gone; the medicine should be used for the full length of time prescribed, even if you feel better sooner. Frequent blood tests may be needed to check how well your liver is working during treatment. After finishing treatment for esophageal candidiasis, your doctor may have you continue on another antifungal medicine to help prevent the infection from coming back.

Available forms and strengths

• Injection

Side effects of Eraxis Injection

Common

• Flushing or hot flashes
• Dizziness
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Headache
• Nausea and vomiting
• Injection site reactions (pain, swelling, or irritation)
• Fever
• Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
• Low blood pressure
• Low potassium levels
• Low blood sugar
• Nosebleeds
• Rash
• Oral (mouth) yeast infection
• Abnormal liver function test results

Serious

• Shortness of breath, dark urine, severe stomach pain, yellowing of eyes or skin, persistent nausea or vomiting (possible liver problems)
• Muscle weakness or spasm
• Vision changes, eye pain, or swelling
• Pain, redness, or swelling of arms or legs
• New signs of infection such as fever or persistent sore throat
• Easy bruising or unusual bleeding
• Fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat, or fluttering in the chest
• Seizures or convulsions
• Increased thirst or urination
• Mental or mood changes, confusion
• Signs of a severe allergic reaction: hives, rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, trouble breathing or swallowing, wheezing, dizziness, or fainting

Warnings and precautions

• This medicine can cause liver problems, including abnormal liver test results, hepatitis, or liver failure in rare cases. Your doctor may do blood tests to check your liver during treatment.
• Serious allergic reactions, including a severe reaction called anaphylaxis with shock, have happened with this medicine. If this happens, your doctor will stop the medicine and treat the reaction.
• This medicine can cause reactions during the infusion itself, possibly related to histamine release, such as rash, hives, flushing, itching, wheezing, trouble breathing, and low blood pressure. Giving the infusion slowly helps lower the chance of this happening.
• This medicine is not approved for babies younger than 1 month old because an ingredient in it (polysorbate 80) has been linked to serious harm in low-birth-weight infants at high doses.
• This medicine contains fructose and should not be given to people with a rare inherited condition called Hereditary Fructose Intolerance (HFI), as it may cause a dangerous metabolic crisis.
• Do not use this medicine if you are allergic to anidulafungin or to similar antifungal medicines known as echinocandins (such as caspofungin or micafungin).
• Eraxis may harm an unborn baby based on animal studies. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, since this medicine should only be used if your doctor decides it is necessary.
• It isn't known if this medicine passes into breast milk in humans, though it has been found in the milk of nursing animals. Talk to your doctor before breastfeeding while using Eraxis.
• No dose changes are needed for people with kidney problems, including those on dialysis.
• No dose changes are needed for people with liver problems. However, tell your doctor if you have liver disease, since this medicine can sometimes cause liver damage, and your liver function may be checked with blood tests during treatment.
• It isn't known whether alcohol affects this medicine, but heavy drinking can weaken your immune system and make it harder for your body to fight the infection.
• No information is available on whether this medicine affects your ability to drive or use machines.

Storage

• Unopened vials should be stored in a refrigerator at 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C). Do not freeze.
• Brief temperature excursions for up to 96 hours at up to 77°F (25°C) are permitted, and the vial can be returned to refrigerated storage afterward.
• After mixing with the diluent, the reconstituted solution can be stored at up to 77°F (25°C) for up to 24 hours before further dilution.
• The final diluted infusion solution can be stored at up to 77°F (25°C) for up to 48 hours. Do not freeze.
• Each vial is for one use only; throw away any unused medicine left in the vial after use.
• Dispose of needles and syringes in a puncture-proof sharps container according to local laws, and keep out of reach of children and pets.

When to see a doctor

• Get emergency help right away if you have signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as hives, trouble breathing, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Tell your nurse or doctor right away if you feel light-headed, itchy, warm, tingly, or sweaty, or if you have chest tightness or trouble breathing during the infusion.
• Seek medical care right away for serious eye symptoms like sudden vision loss, blurred vision, eye pain or swelling, or seeing halos around lights.
• Seek medical care right away for serious heart symptoms such as a fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeat, fluttering in the chest, shortness of breath, or sudden dizziness or fainting.
• Seek medical care right away for a severe headache, confusion, slurred speech, arm or leg weakness, trouble walking, loss of coordination, very stiff muscles, high fever, heavy sweating, or tremors.
• Call your doctor right away if you have little or no urination, dark urine, or pain or burning when you urinate, as these can be signs of kidney problems.
• Call your doctor right away if you notice yellowing of your skin or eyes, dark urine, light-colored stools, severe tiredness, loss of appetite, or stomach pain, which can be signs of liver damage.

Alternatives

• Micafungin
• Caspofungin
• Cancidas