Caspofungin Uses, Side Effects, and More

 Caspofungin

Brand name:- Cancidas tab & injection.

Caspofungin is a drug in the echinocandins class of medications used to manage and treat several medical conditions. These conditions include febrile neutropenia, candida infections, invasive candidiasis, esophageal candidiasis, and invasive aspergillosis.

Pharmacodynamic:-

Caspofungin is an antifungal drug, and belongs to a new class termed the echinocandins. It is used to treat Aspergillus and Candida infection, and works by inhibiting cell wall synthesis. Antifungals in the echinocandin class inhibit the synthesis of glucan in the cell wall, probably via the enzyme 1,3-beta glucan synthase. There is a potential for resistance development to occur, however in vitro resistance development to Caspofungin by Aspergillus species has not been studied.

 Mechanism of action:- 

Caspofungin inhibits the synthesis of beta-(1,3)-D-glucan, an essential component of the cell wall of Aspergillus species and Candida species. beta-(1,3)-D-glucan is not present in mammalian cells. The primary target is beta-(1,3)-glucan synthase.

Used:- 

Treatment of severe fungal infections, including candidemia (fungal infection in the blood), esophageal candidiasis (fungal infection of the esophagus), other candida infections, and aspergillosis (fungal infection in the lungs.

Side effects:- 

Chills, Decreased potassium level in blood, Diarrhea, Fever, Increased alkaline phosphatase level in blood, Increased liver enzymes, Rash.

Dose:- 70mg loading dose infused i.v. over 1 hour , followed by 50mg i.v daily.