Medication Safety Issues
High alert medication:
The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) includes this medication among its list of drug classes (conventional forms with liposomal counterparts; epidural and intrathecal medications) which have a heightened risk of causing significant patient harm when used in error (High-Alert Medications in Acute Care Settings).
Sound-alike/look-alike issues:
Amphotericin B may be confused with amphotericin B liposomal
Other safety concerns:
Conventional amphotericin formulations (deoxycholate [Amphocin, Fungizone]) may be confused with lipid-based formulations (AmBisome, Abelcet, Amphotec).
Large overdoses have occurred when conventional formulations were dispensed inadvertently for lipid-based products. Single daily doses of amphotericin B deoxycholate should not exceed 1.5 mg/kg.
