Famcidovir
Michael Russell
January 07, 2010
HOW SUPPLIED
Tablets: 125 mg, 250 mg, 500 mg
ACTION
A guanosine nucleoside that's converted to penciclovir, which enters viral cells and inhibits DNA polymerase and viral DNA synthesis.
INDICATIONS & DOSAGE
Acute herpes zoster infection (shingles)-
Adults: 500 mg P.O. q 8 hours for 7 days.
Dosage odjustment: For patients with reduced renal function, if creatinine clearance is 60 ml/minute or more, 500 mg P.O. q 8 hours; if clearance is 40 to 59 ml/minute, 500 mg P.O. q 12 hours; if 20 to 39 ml/ minute, 500 mg P.O. q 24 hours; and if below 20 mllminute, 250 mg P.O. q 24 hours.
For hemodialysis patients, 250 mg P.O. after each hemodialysis session.
Recurrent episodes of genital herpes
Adults: 125 mg P.O. b.i.d. for 5 days. Therapy begins as soon as symptoms occur.
Dosage adjustment: For patients with reduced renal function, if creatinine clearance is 40 ml/minute or more, 125 mg P.O. q 12 hours; if 20 to 39 ml/minute, 125 mg P.O. q 24 hours; if below 20 ml/minute, 125 mg P.O. q 24 hours.
For hemodialysis patients, 125 mg P.O. after each hemodialysis session.
Recurrent mucocutaneous herpes simplex infections in HIV-infected patients
Adults: 500 mg P.O. b.i.d. for 7 days.
Dosage adjustment: For patients with reduced renal function, if creatinine clearance is 40 ml/minute or more, 500 mg P.O. q 12 hours; if 20 to 39 m1/minute, 500 mg P.O. q 24 hours; and if below 20 ml/minute, 250 mg P.O. q 24 hours.
For hemodialysis patients, 250 mg P.O. after each hemodialysis session.
ADVERSE REACTIONS
CNS: headache, fatigue, dizziness, paresthesia, somnolence.
EENT: pharyngitis, sinusitis.
GI: diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, constipation, anorexia, abdominal pain.
Musculoskeletal: back pain, arthralgia.
Skin: pruritus; zoster-related signs, symptoms, and complications.
Other: fever.
INTERACTIONS
Orug-drug. Probenecid: may increase plasma levels of famciclovir. Patient should be monitored for increased adverse effects.
EFFECTS ON DIAGNOSTIC TESTS
None reported.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
Contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity to drug.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS
Use cautiously in patients with renal or hepatic impairment. Dosage adjustment may be needed. Renal and liver function tests must be monitored.
Drug may be taken without regard to meals.
Patient teaching
Drug is not a cure for genital herpes, but can decrease the length and severity of symptoms.
Learn how to prevent spread of infection to others.
Early symptoms of herpes infection include tingling, itching, and pain, and should be reported. Treatment is more effective if therapy is started within 48 hours of rash onset.
For Drug-Facts.net by Michael Russell. Get information on various drugs - their uses, benefits and side effects which can occur while taking them, so also learn what precautions should be taken. If you like the above article, the author recommends you to visit http://www.drug-facts.net/blog/.
Tablets: 125 mg, 250 mg, 500 mg
ACTION
A guanosine nucleoside that's converted to penciclovir, which enters viral cells and inhibits DNA polymerase and viral DNA synthesis.
INDICATIONS & DOSAGE
Acute herpes zoster infection (shingles)-
Adults: 500 mg P.O. q 8 hours for 7 days.
Dosage odjustment: For patients with reduced renal function, if creatinine clearance is 60 ml/minute or more, 500 mg P.O. q 8 hours; if clearance is 40 to 59 ml/minute, 500 mg P.O. q 12 hours; if 20 to 39 ml/ minute, 500 mg P.O. q 24 hours; and if below 20 mllminute, 250 mg P.O. q 24 hours.
For hemodialysis patients, 250 mg P.O. after each hemodialysis session.
Recurrent episodes of genital herpes
Adults: 125 mg P.O. b.i.d. for 5 days. Therapy begins as soon as symptoms occur.
Dosage adjustment: For patients with reduced renal function, if creatinine clearance is 40 ml/minute or more, 125 mg P.O. q 12 hours; if 20 to 39 ml/minute, 125 mg P.O. q 24 hours; if below 20 ml/minute, 125 mg P.O. q 24 hours.
For hemodialysis patients, 125 mg P.O. after each hemodialysis session.
Recurrent mucocutaneous herpes simplex infections in HIV-infected patients
Adults: 500 mg P.O. b.i.d. for 7 days.
Dosage adjustment: For patients with reduced renal function, if creatinine clearance is 40 ml/minute or more, 500 mg P.O. q 12 hours; if 20 to 39 m1/minute, 500 mg P.O. q 24 hours; and if below 20 ml/minute, 250 mg P.O. q 24 hours.
For hemodialysis patients, 250 mg P.O. after each hemodialysis session.
ADVERSE REACTIONS
CNS: headache, fatigue, dizziness, paresthesia, somnolence.
EENT: pharyngitis, sinusitis.
GI: diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, constipation, anorexia, abdominal pain.
Musculoskeletal: back pain, arthralgia.
Skin: pruritus; zoster-related signs, symptoms, and complications.
Other: fever.
INTERACTIONS
Orug-drug. Probenecid: may increase plasma levels of famciclovir. Patient should be monitored for increased adverse effects.
EFFECTS ON DIAGNOSTIC TESTS
None reported.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
Contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity to drug.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS
Use cautiously in patients with renal or hepatic impairment. Dosage adjustment may be needed. Renal and liver function tests must be monitored.
Drug may be taken without regard to meals.
Patient teaching
Drug is not a cure for genital herpes, but can decrease the length and severity of symptoms.
Learn how to prevent spread of infection to others.
Early symptoms of herpes infection include tingling, itching, and pain, and should be reported. Treatment is more effective if therapy is started within 48 hours of rash onset.
For Drug-Facts.net by Michael Russell. Get information on various drugs - their uses, benefits and side effects which can occur while taking them, so also learn what precautions should be taken. If you like the above article, the author recommends you to visit http://www.drug-facts.net/blog/.
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