Description and Brand Names

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

US Brand Name

  1. Rezzayo

Descriptions


Rezafungin injection is used to treat candidemia (fungal infection in the blood) and invasive candidiasis in patients who have limited or no other treatment options.

This medicine is to be given only by or under the direct supervision of your doctor.

This product is available in the following dosage forms:

  • Powder for Solution

Before Using

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of rezafungin injection in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of rezafungin injection in the elderly.

Breastfeeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Drug Interactions

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

  • Liver disease—Use with caution. May make this condition worse.

Proper Use

A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine. It is given through a needle placed into one of your veins. This medicine is given slowly, so the needle will have to remain in place for at least 1 hour once a week.

Missed Dose

This medicine needs to be given on a fixed schedule. If you miss a dose or forget to use your medicine, call your doctor or pharmacist for instructions.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check you closely while you are receiving this medicine. This is to make sure the medicine has worked properly. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

This medicine may cause infusion-related reactions. Check with your doctor right away if you have back pain, chest tightness, chills, fever, flushing, headache, nausea and vomiting, trouble breathing, or weakness.

This medicine may make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Use sunscreen when you are outdoors. Avoid sunlamps and tanning beds.

Check with your doctor right away if you have pain or tenderness in the upper stomach, pale stools, dark urine, loss of appetite, nausea, unusual tiredness or weakness, or yellow eyes or skin. These could be symptoms of a serious liver problem.

Side Effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

  1. Bone pain
  2. decreased urine
  3. drowsiness
  4. dry mouth
  5. irregular heartbeat
  6. loss of appetite
  7. mood or mental changes
  8. muscle pain, cramps, or spasms
  9. nausea or vomiting
  10. numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, or lips
  11. pale skin
  12. seizures
  13. trembling
  14. trouble breathing
  15. unusual bleeding or bruising
  16. unusual tiredness or weakness

Less common

  1. Agitation
  2. black, tarry stools
  3. blood in the stools
  4. blood in the urine
  5. back pain
  6. chest tightness
  7. chills
  8. coma
  9. confusion
  10. coughing or vomiting blood
  11. decreased urine output
  12. depression
  13. difficulty swallowing
  14. dizziness
  15. feeling of warmth
  16. fever
  17. headache
  18. hostility
  19. irritability
  20. lethargy
  21. pain, numbness, or tingling of the hands, arms, legs, or feet
  22. persistent bleeding or oozing from puncture sites, mouth, or nose
  23. rash
  24. redness of the face, neck, arms and occasionally, upper chest
  25. stupor
  26. swelling of the face, fingers, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
  27. vomiting of blood or material that looks like coffee grounds
  28. weight gain

Incidence not known

  1. Dark urine
  2. increased sensitivity of skin to sunlight
  3. itching, hives, or welts
  4. pain or tenderness in the upper stomach
  5. pale stools
  6. redness or other discoloration of skin
  7. severe sunburn
  8. yellow eyes or skin

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

  1. Constipation
  2. diarrhea
  3. stomach pain

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Portions of this document last updated: Feb. 01, 2024

Original article: https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/rezafungin-intravenous-route/description/drg-20547419