Nystatin (Nystatin) - Description and Clinical Pharmacology

Rx Only

DESCRIPTION

Nystatin is an antimycotic polyene antibiotic obtained from Streptomyces noursei. The structural formula is:

Molecular Formula: C₄₇ H₇₅ NO₁₇      Molecular Weight: 926.13

Nystatin Oral Suspension, for oral administration, contains 100,000 USP Nystatin Units per mL. Inactive ingredients: alcohol USP (not more than 1% by volume), mint blend flavoring, dibasic sodium phosphate USP, glycerin USP, purified water USP, colloidal silicon dioxide, sucrose NF (50%), methylparaben NF (0.12%) and propylparaben NF (0.03%) as preservatives.

CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY

Pharmacokinetics:

Gastrointestinal absorption of nystatin is insignificant. Most orally administered nystatin is passed unchanged in the stool. In patients with renal insufficiency receiving oral therapy with conventional dosage forms, significant plasma concentrations of nystatin may occasionally occur.

Microbiology:

Nystatin is both fungistatic and fungicidal in vitro against a wide variety of yeasts and yeast-like fungi. Candida albicans demonstrates no significant resistance to nystatin in vitro on repeated subculture in increasing levels of nystatin; other Candida species become quite resistant. Generally, resistance does not develop in vivo. Nystatin acts by binding to sterols in the cell membrane of susceptible Candida species with a resultant change in membrane permeability allowing leakage of intracellular components. Nystatin exhibits no appreciable activity against bacteria, protozoa, or viruses.