Abelcet is a powerful injection-based anti-fungus medication first developed in the 1950s. It is prescribed for serious cases of yeast infections, including cryptococcal meningitis, and – less commonly – for certain serious protozoan infections. Note that Abelcet is a brand name used by the Sigma-Tau pharmaceutical corporation to market the anti-fungal agent Amphotericin B, which is also available from a number of other pharmaceutical companies under different brand names, and is sometimes also sold in combination with antibiotics for greater effect.
If your doctor is considering prescribing Abelcet, you should mention if you have ever suffered an allergic reaction to Abelcet or another form of Amphotericin B in the past, as well as any other specific concerns you may have about taking this medication. In particular, you should mention if you are already taking another prescription antibiotic for any reason, are undergoing drug therapy for cancer, or have a history of kidney disease, heart disease, or diabetes.
There are a substantial number of relatively mild and common side effects of Abelcet. These include digestive difficulties (cramps, diarrhea, weight loss, or heartburn), aches and pains, fatigue, or numbness of the extremities. You need only discuss these potential side effects of Abelcet with your doctor if they are particularly serious or persistent.
In addition, there are also a number of much more serious side effects of Abelcet which are indications that you should seek immediate medical attention. Serious side effects of Abelcet include confusion, seizures, abnormal heartbeat, blood in stool or vomit, difficulty breathing, jaundice, altered vision, fever, fainting, and classic signs of an allergic reaction (such as a skin rash or hives). Severe reactions to Abelcet require that treatment be stopped and must be assessed promptly by a medical professional.
Amphotericin B in general, including in its formulation under the brand name Abelcet, is recognized by medical authorities to cause unusually serious and common side effects. Because of the serious side effects of Abelcet, the National Institutes of Health currently recommends against prescribing this drug or other forms of Amphotericin B for the treatment of non-serious fungal infections in patients with otherwise healthy immune systems..