[Unwanted drug side effects with pentamidine inhalation].

The incidence of systemic side effects under aerosolized pentamidine treatment or prophylaxis for pneumocystis carinii pneumonia is low when compared to intravenous application. Erythema, hypotension, hypoglycemia, renal failure are infrequently seen. Local side effects--cough, bronchial spasm, metallic taste--are frequent complications of aerosolized pentamidine treatment. Cystic lung disease, pneumothorax, and atypical pneumonia may be a late sequelae of pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, and not a primary effect of pentamidine. Poor apical ventilation due to suboptimal inhalation technique etc. and decreased deposition of pentamidine in these areas may be of some consequence for the development of these unusual complications. Extrapulmonary pneumocystis infections under preventive pentamidine aerosol treatment for pneumocystis carinii pneumonia have been seen in single cases, a causal relationship to pentamidine application is not yet established.