Pentamidine Isethionate 300 mg/300mg Injection, Powder, Lyophilized, For Solution
🆔 Identity & classification
Where does this data come from?
🏷️ RxNorm drug class
This medicine belongs to the Antiprotozoal class.
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🏭 Manufacturer & labeler
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🩺 Clinical
Pentamidine injection is used to treat pneumonia caused by a fungus called Pneumocystis carinii. It is in a class of medications called antiprotozoals. It works by stopping the growth of protozoa that can cause pneumonia.
Read the full MedlinePlus article ↗- Pentamidine injection is used to treat a serious lung infection called Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, often shortened to PCP. It's caused by a microscopic organism and most often...
- What is this medicine actually treating?
- No, this isn't something you take at home on your own. Pentamidine injection is given by a healthcare professional — either as a deep injection into a muscle (IM) or as a slow drip...
- How will I receive this medicine — do I take it at home?
Patient education
Supplement & herbal interactions
Pentamidine may be associated with lower levels of 8 nutrients — worth a chat with your pharmacist, not a cause for alarm.
Where does this data come from?
Ask a licensed pharmacist directly — free, answered by our team.
🧪 Inactive Ingredients / Excipients
Inactive ingredients, also called excipients, are components of the drug product other than the active ingredient. They may include fillers, dyes, coatings, preservatives, flavors, or other formulation ingredients.
Where does this data come from?
IACT rows and label-wide narrative are kept separate; availability and product-level specificity depend on the submitted label.Inactive ingredient FAQ
Are inactive ingredients the same for every manufacturer?
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Can inactive ingredients matter?
💲 Pricing
A drug doesn't have one price. Each row is a different public payment system, and none is what you'd pay at the counter — that depends on your insurance. The ⓘ on each row explains what it measures.
| Price system | Per mL | Per package |
|---|---|---|
| Retail pharmacies payNADAC · weekly | Not in the retail survey — common for institutional, discontinued, or low-volume packs. | |
| Medicaid paysCMS SDUD · 12 mo | No recent Medicaid claims on file for this NDC — rare and low-volume NDCs are suppressed in the public data. | |
| Medicare drug plans payPart D · Q2 2026 | $113.86 | — |
Where does this data come from?
🔁 Therapeutic equivalents
| Product | Labeler | Pack | NADAC/unit | TE | Status | Price vs. this |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pentamidine Isethionate 300 mg/300mgthis 00121-1101-02 | PAI | 10 vials | — | AP | FDA listed | — |
| Pentamidine Isethionate 300 mg/300mg 13925-0515-10 | Seton | 10 vials | — | AP | FDA listed | — |
| pentamidine isethionate 300 mg/300mg 23155-0748-41 | Heritage | 10 vials | — | AP | FDA listed | — |
| Pentamidine Isethionate 300 mg/3mL 39822-3050-02 | XGen | 10 vials | — | — | FDA listed | — |
| Pentam 300 300 mg/3mL 63323-0113-10 | Fresenius | 10 vials | — | AP | FDA listed | — |
Where does this data come from?
⏳ Availability & generic status
This product is an FDA-approved generic. Other versions of the same drug are listed under Therapeutic equivalents, least expensive first.
Where does this data come from?
📊 Medicare Part D spend CMS · PART D · 2026 (Q1)
📦 Packaging — all sizes for this product
| Package NDC | Description | Marketing start | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 00121-1101-02 You're viewing this | 10 VIAL, SINGLE-USE in 1 CARTON (0121-1101-02) / 300 mg in 1 VIAL, SINGLE-USE (0121-1101-55) | 2026-06-12 | Active |
🧭 About this NDC listing & data coverage
What data is (and isn’t) available for this NDC — tap to expand
| NDC identity (package / product / labeler codes) | ✓ Available |
| Labeler | ✓ Available |
| Product & package description | ✓ Available |
| Marketing category & status | ✓ Available |
| Active ingredient / dosage form / route | ✓ Available |
| FDA label (SPL via DailyMed) | ✓ Available |
| Package photos | ✓ Available |
| Inactive ingredients (structured) | — Not published for this NDC The labeler did not submit a structured excipient list, or no SPL is available. |
| NADAC pharmacy acquisition price (CMS) | — Not published for this NDC CMS publishes NADAC only for NDCs reported in its retail-pharmacy survey. |
| Orange Book / therapeutic-equivalence data | ✓ Available |
| HCPCS J-code billing crosswalk | — Not published for this NDC Most self-administered / retail products have no J-code — that is normal. |
| Medicaid utilization (CMS SDUD) | — Not published for this NDC CMS reports utilization only for NDCs with Medicaid claims above its privacy threshold. |
Questions about this listing
Why is there no price listed?
Is the NDC printed on the package the same as the 11-digit billing NDC?
What do the three segments of this NDC mean?
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📄 Full prescribing information FDA SPL
🎯 Indications and Usage ▾
INDICATIONS AND USAGE Pentamidine isethionate for injection is indicated for the treatment of pneumonia due to Pneumocystis carinii.
⏱️ Dosage and Administration ▾
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION CAUTION: DO NOT USE SODIUM CHLORIDE INJECTION, USP FOR INITIAL RECONSTITUTION BECAUSE PRECIPITATION WILL OCCUR. Pentamidine isethionate should be administered IM or IV only. The recommended regimen for adults and pediatric patients beyond 4 months of age is 4 mg/kg once a day for 14 to 21 days.
Therapy for longer than 21 days with pentamidine isethionate has also been used but may be associated with increased toxicity. Intramuscular Injection The contents of one vial (300 mg) should be dissolved in 3 mL of Sterile Water for Injection, USP at 22° - 30°C (72° - 86°F). The calculated daily dose should then be withdrawn and administered by deep IM injection.
Intravenous Injection The contents of one vial (300 mg) should first be dissolved in 3 to 5 mL of Sterile Water for Injection, USP, or 5% Dextrose Injection, USP at 22°- 30°C (72° - 86°F). The calculated dose of pentamidine isethionate should then be withdrawn and diluted further in 50 to 250 mL of 5% Dextrose Injection, USP. The diluted IV solutions containing pentamidine isethionate should be infused over a period of 60 to 120 minutes.
Aseptic technique should be employed in preparation of all solutions. Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration whenever solution and container permit. Stability After reconstitution with sterile water, the Pentam solution is stable for 48 hours in the original vial at room temperature if protected from light.
To avoid crystallization, store at 22° - 30°C (72° - 86°F). Intravenous infusion solutions of pentamidine isethionate at 1 mg/mL and 2.5 mg/mL prepared in 5% Dextrose Injection, USP are stable at room temperature for up to 24 hours. Intravenous (IV) solutions of pentamidine isethionate have been shown to be incompatible with fluconazole and foscarnet sodium.
IV solutions of pentamidine isethionate have been shown to be compatible with IV solutions of zidovudine (AZT) and diltiazem hydrochloride.
Intramuscular Injection The contents of one vial (300 mg) should be dissolved in 3 mL of Sterile Water for Injection, USP at 22° - 30°C (72° - 86°F). The calculated daily dose should then be withdrawn and administered by deep IM injection.
Intravenous Injection The contents of one vial (300 mg) should first be dissolved in 3 to 5 mL of Sterile Water for Injection, USP, or 5% Dextrose Injection, USP at 22°- 30°C (72° - 86°F). The calculated dose of pentamidine isethionate should then be withdrawn and diluted further in 50 to 250 mL of 5% Dextrose Injection, USP. The diluted IV solutions containing pentamidine isethionate should be infused over a period of 60 to 120 minutes.
Aseptic technique should be employed in preparation of all solutions. Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration whenever solution and container permit.
Stability After reconstitution with sterile water, the Pentam solution is stable for 48 hours in the original vial at room temperature if protected from light. To avoid crystallization, store at 22° - 30°C (72° - 86°F). Intravenous infusion solutions of pentamidine isethionate at 1 mg/mL and 2.5 mg/mL prepared in 5% Dextrose Injection, USP are stable at room temperature for up to 24 hours.
Intravenous (IV) solutions of pentamidine isethionate have been shown to be incompatible with fluconazole and foscarnet sodium. IV solutions of pentamidine isethionate have been shown to be compatible with IV solutions of zidovudine (AZT) and diltiazem hydrochloride.
⛔ Contraindications ▾
CONTRAINDICATIONS Contraindicated in patients with a history of hypersensitivity to pentamidine isethionate.
⚠️ 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 ▾
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 Leukopenia Thrombocytopenia 1.2% 10.4% 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 Rash 11.1% 3.3% Special Senses: Bad taste 1.7% Urogenital: Azotemia Elevated serum creatinine Elevated blood urea nitrogen Impaired renal function 8.5% 23.6% 6.6% 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.
🆘 Overdosage ▾
OVERDOSAGE A 17 month old infant inadvertently received 1600 mg of intravenous pentamidine isethionate which was followed by renal and hepatic function impairment, hypotension and cardiopulmonary arrest. Treatment included cardiopulmonary resuscitation, epinephrine, atropine and intubation. In addition, a four hour course of charcoal hemoperfusion was accompanied by reduction of pentamidine serum concentration and stabilization of the patient’s condition.
The patient recovered from these adverse events, but later died due to an unknown cause. 1
🧬 Clinical Pharmacology ▾
CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY Pentamidine isethionate, an aromatic diamidine, is known to have activity against Pneumocystis carinii . The mode of action of pentamidine is not fully understood. In vitro studies indicate that the drug interferes with protozoal nuclear metabolism by inhibition of DNA, RNA, phospholipid and protein synthesis.
Pharmacokinetics Pharmacokinetic parameters following the administration of 4 mg/kg pentamidine isethionate as a single two-hour intravenous infusion or after a single intramuscular injection to 12 patients with AIDS are presented in the following table: Mean ± SD C max ng/mL Clearance L/h Half-life hours Vdss L Concentration ng/mL 8 hour 24 hour 2 hour I.V. infusion 4 mg/kg (N=6) 612 ± 371 248 ± 91 6.4 ± 1.3 821 ± 535 19.3 ± 16.9 2.9 ±
1.4I.M. 4 mg/kg (N=6) 209 ± 48 305 ± 81 9.4 ± 2.0 2724 ± 1066 22.9 ± 8.0 6.6 ±
3.5In seven patients treated with daily IM doses of pentamidine at 4 mg/kg for 10 to 12 days, plasma concentrations were between 300 to 500 ng/mL. The concentrations did not appreciably change with time after injection or from day to day. Higher plasma concentrations were encountered in patients with an elevated blood urea nitrogen.
The patients continued to excrete decreasing amounts of pentamidine in urine up to 6 to 8 weeks after cessation of the treatment. Following multiple intravenous administration of pentamidine isethionate (3.7 to 4 mg/kg/day infused over 4 hours) to 6 patients with AIDS being treated for PCP, the pharmacokinetic parameters obtained on Days 1,4 and 7 are summarized in the following table: Mean ± SD C max derived from Lidman ng/mL C min ng/mL Clearance mL/min Renal Clearance mL/min/1.73 m 2 Creatinine Clearance mL/min/1.73 m 2 Day 1 175.3 ± 54 --- 5737 ± 1878 269 ± 149 97 ± 12 Day 4 210.9 ± 80 17.6 ± 9.5 3350 ± 1944 214 ± 145 93 ± 17 Day 7 256.7 ± 89 40.8 ± 16.1 1989 ± 566 134 ± 60 69 ± 17 Compared to the mean AUC on Day 1, AUC on Day 4 and Day 7 were about 2 and 3 fold higher, respectively, suggesting that steady state was not achieved by Day 7 of dosing.
In other published reports of pharmacokinetics of pentamidine following daily intravenous doses of 2 to 4 mg/kg/day, clearance ranged from 30 to 40 mL/min/kg and Vdss ranged from 200 to 400 L/kg. Reported values for terminal half-lives of 2.8 to 12 days is suggestive of a deep peripheral compartment. In the urine, up to 12% of the administered dose has been recovered during a dosing interval as unchanged pentamidine.
Tissue distribution was studied in mice given a single intraperitoneal injection of pentamidine at 10 mg/kg. The concentration was highest in the kidneys followed by the liver. In mice, pentamidine was excreted unchanged, primarily via the kidneys with some elimination in the feces.
The ratio of amounts excreted in the urine and feces (4:1) was constant over the period of study. Tissue distribution has also been studied in normal and in renally impaired dogs (N = 3 each) given 13 mg/kg of pentamidine IV, in 2 doses separated by five weeks. The concentration of pentamidine was highest in the liver followed by kidneys and lungs.
Pentamidine was concentrated in these organs approximately 70 to 1000 times that of the peak serum concentration. Similar findings were reported in normal and in renally impaired dogs (N = 2 each) given 97.5 mg/kg of pentamidine IV, in 15 daily doses. After repeated doses, the organs showed a further 3 to 7 fold accumulation while serum concentrations remained unchanged.
Pharmacokinetics Pharmacokinetic parameters following the administration of 4 mg/kg pentamidine isethionate as a single two-hour intravenous infusion or after a single intramuscular injection to 12 patients with AIDS are presented in the following table: Mean ± SD C max ng/mL Clearance L/h Half-life hours Vdss L Concentration ng/mL 8 hour 24 hour 2 hour I.V. infusion 4 mg/kg (N=6) 612 ± 371 248 ± 91 6.4 ± 1.3 821 ± 535 19.3 ± 16.9 2.9 ±
1.4I.M. 4 mg/kg (N=6) 209 ± 48 305 ± 81 9.4 ± 2.0 2724 ± 1066 22.9 ± 8.…
📦 How Supplied / Storage and Handling ▾
HOW SUPPLIED NDC No. 0121-1101-02 Pentamidine Isethionate for Injection 300 mg, lyophilized product in single dose vials (NDC 0121-1101-55), 10 vials per carton. Store dry product at 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F) [see USP Controlled Room Temperature]. Protect from light. Preservative Free. Discard unused portion. To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact PAI Pharma at 1-800-845-8210 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
📋 Description ▾
DESCRIPTION Pentamidine isethionate for injection, an anti-protozoal agent, is a sterile, nonpyrogenic, lyophilized product. After reconstitution, it should be administered by intramuscular (IM) or intravenous (IV) routes (see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION ). Pentamidine isethionate is a white crystalline powder soluble in water and glycerin, slightly soluble in alcohol and insoluble in ether, acetone, and chloroform.
It is chemically designated as 4,4-[1,5-pentanediylbis(oxy)]bis-benzenecarboximidamid with the following structural formula: Each vial contains: Pentamidine isethionate . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300 mg pentam-structure