Nystatin

(nye-stat-in)

• Description: Antifungal Agent
• Other Names for this Medication: Bio-statin®
• Common Dosage Forms: Veterinary: Topical creams & ointments.

Antifungal medicine to treat yeast overgrowth in the mouth and intestinal tract of dogs, cats, and birds. Not absorbed into the bloodstream after oral administration. Usually no side effects, but high oral doses may cause gastrointestinal upset.

How is this medication useful?

Nystatin is an antifungal medication used to treat yeast overgrowth in the mouth and intestinal tract of dogs, cats, and birds. The FDA (U.S. Food & Drug Administration) has approved this drug for use in humans, butitis not officially approved for use in animals. The FDA allows veterinarians to prescribe and use human products containing nystatin in animals in certain situations. You and your veterinarian can discuss why this drug is the most appropriate choice.

Prescriber Highlights:

• Oral & topical antifungal (eg, Candida spp); not absorbed systemically after PO administration.
• Adverse Effects: GI effects possible at high doses; hypersensitivity possible.

Uses/Indications:

Orally administered nystatin is used primarily for the treatment of oral or gastrointestinal tract Candida spp infections/overgrowth in dogs, cats, and birds; it has been used less commonly in other species for the same indications.

What are the side effects of this medication?

Side effects that usually are not serious include:

• Loss of appetite.
• Vomiting.
• Diarrhea.

If any of these signs are severe, worsen, or continue to be a problem, contact your veterinarian.

Side effects that may be serious orindicate a serious problem:

• Difficulty breathing or swelling of the throat may indicate a severe allergic reaction to this drug.

If you see any of these signs, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Contraindications/Precautions/Warnings:

Nystatin is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to it.

Do not confuse nystatin with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statin drugs: eg, simvastatin).

Adverse Effects:

Occasionally, high dosages of nystatin may cause oral irritation or GI upset (anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea). Rarely, hypersensitivity reactions have been reported in humans.

Drug Interactions:

• No significant interactions reported for oral nystatin.