Side effects of antifungal medicines and interactions with other medicines

Antifungal medicines can cause side effects. These will differ depending onthe type of antifungal medicine you are using. Side effects of topical antifungals Topical antifungal medicines, such as creams, can cause: itching a mild burning sensation redness Stop using the medicine if any of these side effects are severe, and see your GP or pharmacist to find an alternative. Side effects of oral antifungals Side effects of oral antifungals, such as capsules, include: feeling sick abdominal (tummy) pain Traveller's diarrhoea flatulence (wind) headache a rash indigestion These side effects are usually mild and only last for a short period of time. Antifungals can also causesevere reactions, such as: an allergic reaction swelling of your face, neck or tongue or difficulty breathing a severe skin reaction such as peeling or blistering skin If you experience any of these reactions, stop taking your medicine and contact your GP immediately. If you are having difficulty breathing, visit the accident and emergency (A&E) department of your nearest hospitalor call 999 for an ambulance. Liver damagefrom antifungal medicines Liver damage is a rare, but more serious, side effect of oral antifungals. Stop taking the medicine and contact your GPif you experience: loss of appetite vomiting feeling sick for a long time jaundice yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes unusually dark urine or pale faeces (stools) unusual tiredness or weakness Side effects of intravenous antifungals Amphotericin B is the most commonly used intravenous antifungal. This is usually given in hospital as an intravenous infusion (a continuous drip of medicine into a vein in your arm). Side effects of amphotericin include: loss of appetite feeling sick vomiting diarrhoea epigastric pain (pain in the upper part of your tummy) a high temperature (fever) chills headache muscle and joint pain anaemia (a reduced number of red blood cells) a rash Amphotericin can also affect your: kidneys causing abnormally low levels of some minerals in your blood, such as potassium or magnesium More rarely it can cause problems with your: heart causing an irregular heartbeat or changes in your blood pressure liver affecting the wayyour liver functions by,for example, causing a build-up of bilirubin in the blood; bilirubin is a yellow substance that is produced when red blood cells are broken down As amphotericin is given in hospital under supervision, any adverse effects are usually quickly detected and treated. Antifungal medicine interactions with other medicines When two or more medicines are taken at the same time, the effects of one of the medicines can be altered by the other. This is known as a drug interaction. Some antifungal medicines can interact with other medicines . Tell your GP or pharmacist what other medicines you are taking, including over-the-counter medicines, so they can decide whether an antifungal medicine is safe for you to take. Medicines that antifungal medicines may interact with include: benzodiazepines a group of medicines used to help sleep and reduce anxiety ciclosporin a medicine that suppresses the immune system (the body's natural defence against illness and infection) cimetidine a medicine used to treat indigestion hydrochlorothiazide a medicine used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) oestrogens and progestogens hormones found in some contraceptives phenytoin a medicine used to treat epilepsy rifampicin an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections, such as tuberculosis cyclosporine and tacrolimus medicines that suppress the immune system theophylline a medicine used to treat asthma tricyclic antidepressants medicines used to treat depression zidovudine a medicine used to treat HIV and AIDS