Fidaxomicin was officially approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on May 27, 2011 and was launched in the U.S. market. So far, the drug has not been launched in China and has not been included in my country's medical insurance system. As the only FDA-approved drug specifically used to treat primary and recurrent Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) infections, Fidaxomicin has its unique position.

What diseases can Fidaxomicin treat?

Fidaxomicin is used to treat Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) in adults and children aged 6 months and above.

CDAD is a serious bacterial infection that is often closely related to long-term use of antibiotics, long-term hospitalization, or decreased immune function of patients. Fidaxomicin has a significant ability to reduce the adverse effects of other conventional antibiotics by selectively targeting CDI pathogens in the intestine.

To ensure that drug-resistant bacteria do not develop further and maintain the effectiveness of Fidaxomicin and other antibacterial drugs, the use of Fidaxomicin should be strictly limited to the treatment of infections that have been clearly confirmed or highly suspected to be caused by Clostridium difficile.

What are the side effects of Fidaxomicin?

Although Fidaxomicin is effective, it may also cause some side effects during use. Before using Fidaxomicin, the doctor will evaluate the patient's condition and contraindications to reduce the impact of the drug on the body.

The most common adverse reactions in adult patients (incidence ≥ 2%)

Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, gastrointestinal bleeding, anemia and neutropenia.

The most common adverse reactions in pediatric patients (incidence ≥ 5%)

Fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, elevated transaminases and rash.

Understanding and managing the uncomfortable symptoms caused by Fidaxomicin can help improve the comfort and effectiveness of treatment; drug interactions are important information that doctors and patients need to understand together.

What are the drug interactions of Fidaxomicin?

The drug interactions of Fidaxomicin may affect the efficacy of the drug, and understanding these interactions is essential for optimizing treatment.

Patients should avoid using Fidaxomicin in combination with cyclosporine. Fidaxomicin and its key metabolite OP-1118 are substrates for the efflux transporter P-glycoprotein (P-gp) expressed in the gastrointestinal tract, while cyclosporine is a substance that can inhibit multiple transporters, including P-glycoprotein. When cyclosporine is used together with Fidaxomicin, it causes a significant increase in the plasma concentrations of Fidaxomicin and OP-1118, although these concentration increases remain in the ng/ml range.

The concentrations of Fidaxomicin and OP-1118 at the site of action, i.e. the gastrointestinal tract, may be reduced by the inhibition of P-gp. In controlled clinical trials, no significant changes in medication safety or treatment outcomes were observed when adult patients were treated with P-gp inhibitors and Fidaxomicin at the same time. Based on these findings, Fidaxomicin can be used in combination with P-gp inhibitors without the need for dose adjustment. Want to learn more about Fidaxomicin? You can also click here for free online consultation

To ensure that drug-resistant bacteria do not develop further and to maintain the effectiveness of Fidaxomicin and other antibacterial drugs, the use of Fidaxomicin should be strictly limited to the treatment of infections that have been clearly confirmed or highly suspected to be caused by Clostridium difficile.