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anidulafungin vs caspofungin

Side-by-side comparison of anidulafungin and caspofungin Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

Drug Class
anidulafungin Echinocandin Antifungal
caspofungin Echinocandin Antifungal
Type
anidulafungin Prescription
caspofungin Prescription
Summary
anidulafungin

Eraxis is an antifungal medicine. It treats certain Candida infections in your body.

caspofungin

Caspofungin is an antifungal medicine. It fights fungal infections in your body.

What It Treats
anidulafungin

Eraxis treats candidemia and other Candida infections, like intra-abdominal abscesses and peritonitis. It can be used in adults and children 1 month and older. Eraxis also treats esophageal candidiasis (a Candida infection in the esophagus) in adults. However, Eraxis may not work as well for esophageal candidiasis, and the infection may come back.

caspofungin

Caspofungin treats several types of fungal infections. It is used for presumed fungal infections in patients with fever and low white blood cell counts. Caspofungin also treats infections caused by Candida, such as infections in the blood, abdomen, and esophagus. It can also treat invasive aspergillosis when other medicines don't work or can't be tolerated.

How It Works
anidulafungin

Eraxis belongs to a class of drugs called echinocandins. It works by stopping the growth of the fungus Candida. It does this by blocking a key part of the fungal cell wall.

caspofungin

Caspofungin stops fungi from growing. It does this by blocking a key part of the fungal cell wall. This causes the fungal cells to die.

Common Side Effects
anidulafungin
  • Low potassium levels
  • Nausea
  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting
  • Fever
caspofungin
  • Diarrhea
  • Fever
  • Increased liver enzyme levels
  • Decreased potassium levels
  • Rash
FAERS Reports
anidulafungin
  • The medicine did not work 367
  • Many organs stop working right 171
  • Using the medicine for something it's not approved for 164
  • Dangerous drop in blood pressure due to infection 127
  • Blood infection 115
caspofungin
  • The medicine is not working 644
  • Using the medicine for a condition it is not approved for 233
  • Death 223
  • Using the product for a condition it is not approved for 207
  • Lung infection 200
Serious Warnings
anidulafungin

Eraxis can cause liver problems. Your doctor should check your liver function while you are taking Eraxis. Allergic reactions, including shock, can happen. Tell your doctor right away if you have any signs of an allergic reaction, like rash, hives, flushing, itching, trouble breathing, or low blood pressure. Eraxis contains fructose. If you have hereditary fructose intolerance, you should not take Eraxis.

caspofungin

Caspofungin can cause serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. If you have signs of an allergic reaction, stop taking caspofungin right away. Caspofungin can also affect your liver. Your doctor will monitor your liver function with blood tests.

Pregnancy
anidulafungin

Eraxis may harm your unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Eraxis passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of breastfeeding while taking Eraxis.

caspofungin

Caspofungin may harm your unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if caspofungin passes into breast milk, so talk to your doctor about breastfeeding while taking this medicine.

Also Compare — Nearby Drugs

Compare anidulafungin with

Compare caspofungin with

How to Read This anidulafungin vs caspofungin Comparison

anidulafungin is classified in the Echinocandin Antifungal drug class, while caspofungin sits within the Echinocandin 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, anidulafungin has 944 submissions while caspofungin has 1,507. 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 substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between anidulafungin and caspofungin — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.

Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.