Fansidar Side Effects

Please note - some side effects for Fansidar may not be reported. Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice. You may also report side effects to the FDA at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/ or 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088).

Side Effects of Fansidar - for the Consumer

Fansidar

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Fansidar:

Diarrhea; dizziness; headache; nausea; vomiting.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); cough; dark urine; decreased urination; depression; hallucinations; joint pain; lack of coordination; persistent sore throat, fever, or chills; red, swollen, or blistered skin; ringing in the ears; seizures; shortness of breath; sores on the mouth or lips; stomach pain; swelling or stinging of the tongue; tingling or numbness of the skin; unusual bruising or bleeding; unusual tiredness or weakness; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

Fansidar Side Effects - for the Professional

Fansidar

For completeness, all major reactions to sulfonamides and to pyrimethamine are included below, even though they may not have been reported with Fansidar.

Hematological Changes

Agranulocytosis, aplastic anemia, megaloblastic anemia, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, hemolytic anemia, purpura, hypoprothrombinemia, methemoglobinemia, and eosinophilia.

Skin and Miscellaneous Sites Allergic Reactions

Erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, generalized skin eruptions, toxic epidermal necrolysis, urticaria, serum sickness, pruritus, exfoliative dermatitis, anaphylactoid reactions, periorbital edema, conjunctival and scleral injection, photosensitization, arthralgia, allergic myocarditis, slight hair loss, Lyell's syndrome, and allergic pericarditis.

Gastrointestinal Reactions

Glossitis, stomatitis, nausea, emesis, abdominal pains, hepatitis, hepatocellular necrosis, diarrhea, pancreatitis, feeling of fullness, and transient rise of liver enzymes.

Central Nervous System Reactions

Headache, peripheral neuritis, mental depression, convulsions, ataxia, hallucinations, tinnitus, vertigo, insomnia, apathy, fatigue, muscle weakness, nervousness, and polyneuritis.

Respiratory Reactions

Pulmonary infiltrates resembling eosinophilic or allergic alveolitis.

Genitourinary

Renal failure, interstitial nephritis, BUN and serum creatinine elevation, toxic nephrosis with oliguria and anuria, and crystalluria.

Miscellaneous Reactions

Drug fever, chills, periarteritis nodosa and LE phenomenon have occurred.

The sulfonamides bear certain chemical similarities to some goitrogens, diuretics (acetazolamide and the thiazides), and oral hypoglycemic agents. Diuresis and hypoglycemia have occurred rarely in patients receiving sulfonamides. Cross-sensitivity may exist with these agents. Rats appear to be especially susceptible to the goitrogenic effects of sulfonamides, and long-term administration has produced thyroid malignancies in the species.

Side Effects by Body System

Hypersensitivity

Hypersensitivity reactions have included erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, generalized skin eruptions, toxic epidermal necrolysis, urticaria, serum sickness, pruritus, exfoliative dermatitis, anaphylactoid reactions, periorbital edema, conjunctival and scleral injection, photosensitization, arthralgia, and allergic pericarditis. Fatalities due to severe hypersensitivity reactions have been reported.

Severe cutaneous reactions have occurred in patients who have taken as few as two doses of pyrimethamine-sulfadoxine. The risk of fatal cutaneous reactions in patients receiving pyrimethamine-sulfadoxine has been estimated to range from 1 in 11,000 to 1 in 25,000. In general, the use of sulfonamide antibiotics is associated with large increases in the risk of Stevens-Johnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis, although these phenomena are rare as a whole.

Dermatologic

Dermatologic side effects have frequently included phototoxicity, rash, dermatitis, and hair loss.

Hematologic

Hematologic toxicity is more common with higher doses of pyrimethamine.

Many cases of agranulocytosis have occurred during therapy with pyrimethamine-dapsone, although it has been reported in patients receiving pyrimethamine-sulfadoxine as well.

Hematologic side effects have included leucopenia (7%), agranulocytosis, aplastic anemia, megaloblastic anemia, thrombocytopenia, hemolytic anemia, purpura, hypoprothrombinemia, methemoglobinemia, and eosinophilia. Macrocytic anemia has also been reported. Fatalities have been reported.

Gastrointestinal

Gastrointestinal side effects have included anorexia (5.5%), digestive intolerance (3%), diarrhea (2.74%), abdominal pain (2.74%), vomiting (2.74%), nausea, glossitis, stomatitis, and pancreatitis.

Hepatic

Hepatic side effects have included hepatitis (7%), hepatocellular necrosis, and liver enzyme elevations.

In many cases, the hepatitis has accompanied severe cutaneous reactions, fever, myalgias and arthralgias. Granulomas and necrosis have been seen on biopsy.

Renal

Renal side effects have included renal failure, interstitial nephritis, toxic nephrosis with oliguria and anuria, crystalluria, and increases in BUN and serum creatinine.

Respiratory

Respiratory side effects have included cough (9.6%), pulmonary infiltrates and shortness of breath which may be due to pulmonary hypersensitivity reactions. Frequently, the pulmonary reactions have accompanied other systemic symptoms.

Nervous system

Nervous system side effects have included headache (4.1%), peripheral neuritis, mental depression, convulsions, ataxia, hallucinations, tinnitus, vertigo, insomnia, apathy, fatigue, muscle weakness, nervousness, and polyneuritis.

Metabolic

Metabolic side effects associated with sulfonamides have included diuresis and hypoglycemia. Sulfonamides are chemically similar to goitrogenic agents (i.e., diuretics and oral hypoglycemic agents).

Genitourinary

Genitourinary side effects have included crystalluria.

Endocrine

Endocrine side effects including weight gain (1 kg or greater) have been reported in 53% of patients.

Other

Other side effects have included drug fever, chills, periarteritis nodosa, and lupus erythematosus phenomenon.

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