Meglumine antimoniate

Uses for meglumine antimoniate

Meglumine antimoniate belongs to the group of medicines called antiprotozoals. Meglumine antimoniate is used to treat an infection called leishmaniasis (Bay sore or chiclero ulcer, espundia, kala-azar or black sickness, Oriental sore, ulcera de Bejuco, uta), which is caused by protozoa (tiny, one-celled organisms).

Meglumine antimoniate should be administered by or under the supervision of your doctor.

Before using meglumine antimoniate

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 meglumine antimoniate, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to meglumine antimoniate 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

Although there is no specific information comparing use of meglumine antimoniate in children with use in other age groups, meglumine antimoniate is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in children than it does in adults.

Geriatric

Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use of meglumine antimoniate in the elderly with use in other age groups.

Interactions with medicines

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.

Interactions with food/tobacco/alcohol

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 meglumine antimoniate. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Heart disease or
• Kidney disease or
• Liver disease or
• Pancreatic disease—Meglumine antimoniate may make these conditions worse

Proper use of meglumine antimoniate

To help clear up your infection completely, meglumine antimoniate is based on its amount of pentavalent antimony and must be given for the full time of treatment and on a regular schedule.

Dosing

The dose of meglumine antimoniate will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of meglumine antimoniate. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the num...