amphotericin B vs nystatin
PlainMeds reviewed this comparison against our methodology in August 2026. It places FDA and CMS record fields side by side, without recommending either medication.
Side-by-side comparison of amphotericin B and nystatin. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Ambisome, Fungizone
Mycostatin
Amphotericin B liposome is an antifungal medicine. It fights serious fungal infections in your body.
Nystatin topical powder is an antifungal medicine. It treats fungal infections on your skin.
This medicine treats fungal infections like aspergillosis, candidiasis, and cryptococcosis. It can also treat cryptococcal meningitis in people with HIV. It may also be used for visceral leishmaniasis, but this infection can return, especially in those with weak immune systems.
This medicine treats skin infections caused by Candida, a type of fungus. It is for use on the skin only. Do not use in your mouth, vagina, eyes, or for infections inside your body.
Amphotericin B liposome belongs to a class of drugs called polyene antifungals. It works by binding to the membrane of the fungal cells. This binding disrupts the fungal cell membrane, causing the cell to die.
Nystatin is an antifungal medicine. It works by killing the fungus or stopping its growth. This helps to clear up the infection on your skin.
- • Abdominal pain
- • Weakness
- • Back pain
- • Chills
- • Pain
- • Allergic reactions
- • Burning
- • Itching
- • Rash
- • Eczema
- Pyrexia 972
- Condition Aggravated 841
- Febrile Neutropenia 650
- Acute Kidney Injury 625
- Sepsis 613
- Nausea 1,963
- Fatigue 1,799
- Diarrhoea 1,786
- Pneumonia 1,613
- Dyspnoea 1,483
This medicine is not interchangeable with other amphotericin B products. Different versions of amphotericin B act differently in the body. Make sure you always get the correct medicine.
You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to any of its ingredients.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if this medicine will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of using this medicine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding before using this medicine. It is not known if nystatin topical powder is harmful to an unborn baby or passes into breast milk.
How to Read This amphotericin B vs nystatin Comparison
amphotericin B is classified in the Polyene Antifungal drug class, while nystatin sits within the Polyene Antifungal class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory, but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, amphotericin B has 3,701 submissions while nystatin has 8,644. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for amphotericin B or nystatin.
Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.