pentamidine isethionate

openFDA label record#

This page contains supplementary openFDA label data. For the canonical label presentation, use the corresponding DailyMed Structured Product Label.

Verified complete openFDA source JSON (canonical bytes are SHA-256 checked before publication)

Brand name
pentamidine isethionate
Generic name
PENTAMIDINE ISETHIONATE
Manufacturer
Heritage Pharmaceuticals Inc. d/b/a Avet Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Product type
HUMAN PRESCRIPTION DRUG
SPL set ID
5c14fbf2-e21f-44b3-b35c-06919d40d7e0
SPL ID
77269af7-78f2-4f7d-bfe9-bdcd2bedaa86
Version
7
Effective date
2025-10-31
Source export date
2026-09-28
Source partition
11
Source file
https://download.open.fda.gov/drug/label/drug-label-0011-of-0014.json.zip
Source object key
raw/openfda/drug-label/2026-09-28/aa96b5a2be6b394393acd0090f6948bdf99e0e8e00666f81608929c8fa83db77/drug-label-0011-of-0014.json.zip
Source manifest SHA-256
cd2e66336a5cd2223fa3995098fdbdb84c6a7ee5c0a4addb236ccb22dd1e6887
Import run
20260929T050834Z
Imported at
2026-09-29 06:16:46
Harmonized routes table
Harmonized routes
INTRAMUSCULAR, INTRAVENOUS

Warnings cross-check#

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Warnings sections page 1 of 1 · 1 matching rows.

warnings

WARNINGS Fatalities due to severe hypotension, hypoglycemia, acute pancreatitis and cardiac arrhythmias have been reported in patients treated with pentamidine isethionate, both by the IM and IV routes. Severe hypotension may result after a single IM or IV dose and is more likely with rapid IV administration (see PRECAUTIONS ). The administration of the drug should, therefore, be limited to the patients in whom Pneumocystis carinii has been demonstrated. Patients should be closely monitored for the development of serious adverse reactions (see PRECAUTIONS and ADVERSE REACTIONS ). Extravasations have been reported which, in some instances, proceeded to ulceration, tissue necrosis and/or sloughing at the injection site. While not common, surgical debridement and skin grafting has been necessary in some of these cases; long-term sequelae have been reported. Prevention is the most effective means of limiting the severity of extravasation. The intravenous needle or catheter must be properly positioned and closely observed throughout the period of pentamidine isethionate administration. If extravasation occurs, the injection should be discontinued immediately and restarted in another vein. Because there are no known local treatment measures which have proven to be useful, management of the extravasation should be symptomatic.

Adverse reactions cross-check#

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Adverse reactions sections page 1 of 1 · 3 matching rows.

adverse reactions

ADVERSE REACTIONS CAUTION : Fatalities due to severe hypotension, hypoglycemia, acute pancreatitis and cardiac arrhythmias have been reported in patients treated with pentamidine isethionate, both by the IM and IV routes. Nephrotoxic events (increased creatinine, impaired renal function, azotemia, and renal failure) are common with the parenteral administration of pentamidine isethionate. The administration of the drug should, therefore, be limited to the patients in whom Pneumocystis carinii has been demonstrated. The most frequently reported spontaneous adverse events (1 to 30%) reported in clinical trials, regardless of their relation to pentamidine isethionate therapy were as follows (n=424): Cardiovascular: Hypotension 5.0% Gastrointestinal: Anorexia/Nausea 5.9% Hematologic: Anemia 1.2% Leukopenia 10.4% Thrombocytopenia 2.6% Hepatic: Elevated liver function tests 8.7% Metabolic: Hypoglycemia 5.9% Neurologic: Confusion/hallucinations 1.7% Skin: Sterile abscess and/or necrosis, pain, or induration at the site of IM injection 11.1% Rash 3.3% Special Senses: Bad taste 1.7% Urogenital: Azotemia 8.5% Elevated serum creatinine 23.6% Elevated blood urea nitrogen 6.6% Impaired renal function 28.8% Adverse events with a frequency of less than 1% incidence were as follows (No causal relationship to treatment has been established for these adverse events): Body as a whole: Allergic reaction (i.e. urticaria, itching, rash), anaphylaxis, arthralgia, chills, extrapulmonary pneumocystosis, headache, night sweats, and Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Cardiovascular: Abnormal ST segment of electrocardiogram, cardiac arrhythmias, cerebrovascular accident, hypertension, palpitations, phlebitis, syncope, tachycardia, vasodilatation, vasculitis and ventricular tachycardia. Gastrointestinal: Abdominal pain, diarrhea, dry mouth, dyspepsia, hematochezia, hypersalivation, melena, pancreatitis, splenomegaly, and vomiting. Hematological: Defibrination, eosinophilia, neutropenia, pancytopenia, and prolonged clotting time. Hepatic: Hepatic dysfunction, hepatitis and hepatomegaly Metabolic: Hyperglycemia, hyperkalemia, hypocalcemia, and hypomagnesemia. Neurological: Anxiety, confusion, depression, dizziness, drowsiness, emotional lability, hypesthesia, insomnia, memory loss, neuropathy, nervousness, neuralgia, paranoia, paresthesia, peripheral neuropathy, seizure, tremors, unsteady gait, and vertigo. Respiratory system: Asthma, bronchitis, bronchospasm, chest congestion, chest tightness, coryza, cyanosis, eosinophilic or interstitial pneumonitis, gagging, hemoptysis, hyperventilation, laryngitis, laryngospasm, non-specific lung disorder, nasal congestion, pleuritis, pneumothorax, rales, rhinitis, shortness of breath, and tachypnea. Skin: Desquamation, dry and breaking hair, dry skin, erythema, dermatitis, pruritus, rash, and urticaria. Special senses: Blepharitis, blurred vision, conjunctivitis, contact lens discomfort, eye pain or discomfort, loss of hearing, loss of taste, and loss of smell. Urogenital: Flank pain, hematuria, incontinence, nephritis, renal dysfunction and renal failure. From post-marketing clinical experience with pentamidine isethionate, the following adverse events have been reported: cough, diabetes mellitus/ketoacidosis, dyspnea, infiltration (extravasation–see WARNINGS ), and torsades de pointes.

adverse reactions table

<table ID="ID39" width="562" styleCode="Noautorules"><col width="328"/><col width="234"/><tbody><tr><td valign="top" styleCode="Lrule Toprule Rrule" align="left"> Cardiovascular: </td><td valign="top" styleCode=" Toprule Rrule"/></tr><tr><td valign="top" styleCode="Lrule Botrule Rrule" align="left"> Hypotension </td><td valign="top" styleCode=" Botrule Rrule" align="left"> 5.0% </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" styleCode=" Lrule Rrule" align="left"> Gastrointestinal: </td><td valign="top" styleCode=" Rrule"/></tr><tr><td valign="top" styleCode="Lrule Botrule Rrule" align="left"> Anorexia/Nausea </td><td valign="top" styleCode=" Botrule Rrule" align="left"> 5.9% </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" styleCode=" Lrule Rrule" align="left"> Hematologic: </td><td valign="top" styleCode=" Rrule"/></tr><tr><td valign="top" styleCode=" Lrule Rrule" align="left"> Anemia </td><td valign="top" styleCode=" Rrule" align="left"> 1.2% </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" styleCode=" Lrule Rrule" align="left"> Leukopenia </td><td valign="top" styleCode=" Rrule" align="left"> 10.4% </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" styleCode="Lrule Botrule Rrule" align="left"> Thrombocytopenia </td><td valign="top" styleCode=" Botrule Rrule" align="left"> 2.6% </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" styleCode=" Lrule Rrule" align="left"> Hepatic: </td><td valign="top" styleCode=" Rrule"/></tr><tr><td valign="top" styleCode="Lrule Botrule Rrule" align="left"> Elevated liver function tests </td><td valign="top" styleCode=" Botrule Rrule" align="left"> 8.7% </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" styleCode=" Lrule Rrule" align="left"> Metabolic: </td><td valign="top" styleCode=" Rrule"/></tr><tr><td valign="top" styleCode="Lrule Botrule Rrule" align="left"> Hypoglycemia </td><td valign="top" styleCode=" Botrule Rrule" align="left"> 5.9% </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" styleCode=" Lrule Rrule" align="left"> Neurologic: </td><td valign="top" styleCode=" Rrule"/></tr><tr><td valign="top" styleCode="Lrule Botrule Rrule" align="left"> Confusion/hallucinations </td><td valign="top" styleCode=" Botrule Rrule" align="left"> 1.7% </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" styleCode=" Lrule Rrule" align="left"> Skin: </td><td valign="top" styleCode=" Rrule"/></tr><tr><td valign="top" styleCode=" Lrule Rrule" align="left"> Sterile abscess and/or necrosis, pain, or induration at the site of IM injection </td><td valign="top" styleCode=" Rrule" align="left"> 11.1% </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" styleCode="Lrule Botrule Rrule" align="left"> Rash </td><td valign="top" styleCode=" Botrule Rrule" align="left"> 3.3% </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" styleCode=" Lrule Rrule" align="left"> Special Senses: </td><td valign="top" styleCode=" Rrule"/></tr><tr><td valign="top" styleCode="Lrule Botrule Rrule" align="left"> Bad taste </td><td valign="top" styleCode=" Botrule Rrule" align="left"> 1.7% </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" styleCode=" Lrule Rrule" align="left"> Urogenital: </td><td valign="top" styleCode=" Rrule"/></tr><tr><td valign="top" styleCode=" Lrule Rrule" align="left"> Azotemia </td><td valign="top" styleCode=" Rrule" align="left"> 8.5% </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" styleCode=" Lrule Rrule" align="left"> Elevated serum creatinine </td><td valign="top" styleCode=" Rrule" align="left"> 23.6% </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" styleCode=" Lrule Rrule" align="left"> Elevated blood urea nitrogen </td><td valign="top" styleCode=" Rrule" align="left"> 6.6% </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" styleCode="Lrule Botrule Rrule" align="left"> Impaired renal function </td><td valign="top" styleCode=" Botrule Rrule" align="left"> 28.8% </td></tr></tbody></table>

adverse reactions table

<table ID="ID41" width="708" styleCode="Noautorules"><col width="113"/><col width="595"/><tbody><tr><td valign="top" styleCode="Lrule Toprule Botrule Rrule" align="left"> Body as a whole: </td><td valign="top" styleCode=" Toprule Botrule Rrule" align="left"> Allergic reaction (i.e. urticaria, itching, rash), anaphylaxis, arthralgia, chills, extrapulmonary pneumocystosis, headache, night sweats, and Stevens-Johnson syndrome. </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" styleCode="Lrule Botrule Rrule" align="left"> Cardiovascular: </td><td valign="top" styleCode=" Botrule Rrule" align="left"> Abnormal ST segment of electrocardiogram, cardiac arrhythmias, cerebrovascular accident, hypertension, palpitations, phlebitis, syncope, tachycardia, vasodilatation, vasculitis and ventricular tachycardia. </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" styleCode="Lrule Botrule Rrule" align="left"> Gastrointestinal: </td><td valign="top" styleCode=" Botrule Rrule" align="left"> Abdominal pain, diarrhea, dry mouth, dyspepsia, hematochezia, hypersalivation, melena, pancreatitis, splenomegaly, and vomiting. </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" styleCode="Lrule Botrule Rrule" align="left"> Hematological: </td><td valign="top" styleCode=" Botrule Rrule" align="left"> Defibrination, eosinophilia, neutropenia, pancytopenia, and prolonged clotting time. </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" styleCode="Lrule Botrule Rrule" align="left"> Hepatic: </td><td valign="top" styleCode=" Botrule Rrule" align="left"> Hepatic dysfunction, hepatitis and hepatomegaly </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" styleCode="Lrule Botrule Rrule" align="left"> Metabolic: </td><td valign="top" styleCode=" Botrule Rrule" align="left"> Hyperglycemia, hyperkalemia, hypocalcemia, and hypomagnesemia. </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" styleCode="Lrule Botrule Rrule" align="left"> Neurological: </td><td valign="top" styleCode=" Botrule Rrule" align="left"> Anxiety, confusion, depression, dizziness, drowsiness, emotional lability, hypesthesia, insomnia, memory loss, neuropathy, nervousness, neuralgia, paranoia, paresthesia, peripheral neuropathy, seizure, tremors, unsteady gait, and vertigo. </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" styleCode="Lrule Botrule Rrule" align="left"> Respiratory system: </td><td valign="top" styleCode=" Botrule Rrule" align="left"> Asthma, bronchitis, bronchospasm, chest congestion, chest tightness, coryza, cyanosis, eosinophilic or interstitial pneumonitis, gagging, hemoptysis, hyperventilation, laryngitis, laryngospasm, non-specific lung disorder, nasal congestion, pleuritis, pneumothorax, rales, rhinitis, shortness of breath, and tachypnea. </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" styleCode="Lrule Botrule Rrule" align="left"> Skin: </td><td valign="top" styleCode=" Botrule Rrule" align="left"> Desquamation, dry and breaking hair, dry skin, erythema, dermatitis, pruritus, rash, and urticaria. </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" styleCode="Lrule Botrule Rrule" align="left"> Special senses: </td><td valign="top" styleCode=" Botrule Rrule" align="left"> Blepharitis, blurred vision, conjunctivitis, contact lens discomfort, eye pain or discomfort, loss of hearing, loss of taste, and loss of smell. </td></tr><tr><td valign="top" styleCode="Lrule Botrule Rrule" align="left"> Urogenital: </td><td valign="top" styleCode=" Botrule Rrule" align="left"> Flank pain, hematuria, incontinence, nephritis, renal dysfunction and renal failure. </td></tr></tbody></table>

Reported adverse events (FAERS/openFDA)#

Adverse event summaries are temporarily unavailable. Other product information remains available.