Famciclovir Medication Summary
No separate FDA Medication Guide was found for this label. This summary is based on FDA/DailyMed prescribing information.
What is this medication?
Famciclovir is described in FDA/DailyMed prescribing information. No separate FDA Medication Guide was found for this label. This summary is based on FDA/DailyMed prescribing information.
What is this medication used for?
1 INDICATIONS & USAGE Famciclovir tablet, a prodrug of penciclovir, is a deoxynucleoside analog DNA polymerase inhibitor indicated for: Immunocompetent Adult Patients ( 1.1 ) • Herpes labialis (cold sores) o Treatment of recurrent episodes • Genital herpes o Treatment of recurrent episodes o Suppressive therapy of recurrent episodes • Herpes zoster (shingles) Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-Infected Adult Patients ( 1.2 ) • Treatment of recurrent episodes of orolabial or genital herpes Limitation of Use The efficacy and safety of famciclovir tablets have not been established for: • Patients with first episode of genital herpes • Patients with ophthalmic zoster • Immunocompromised.
What should I know before taking it?
Famciclovir tablets are contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to the product, its components, or Denavir ®(penciclovir cream).
What important warnings are listed?
5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Acute renal failure: May occur in patients with underlying renal disease who receive higher than recommended doses of famciclovir for their level of renal function. Reduce dosage in patients with renal impairment. ( 2.3 , 8.6 ) 5.1 Acute Renal Failure Cases of acute renal failure have been reported in patients with underlying renal disease who have received inappropriately high doses of famciclovir for their level of renal function. Dosage reduction is recommended when administering famciclovir to patients with renal impairment [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.3 ), Use in Specific Populations ( 8.6 )].
How is this medication usually taken?
Famciclovir tablets may be taken with or without food. Famciclovir tablets are available in 3 strengths: •125 mg : Off white, round, biconvex, film coated tablets, debossed with 'I' on one side and '50' on the other side • 250 mg: Off white, round, biconvex, film coated tablets, debossed with 'I' on one side and '49' on the other side • 500 mg: Off white, oval, film coated, biconvex tablets, debossed with 'I' on one side and '48' on the other side
What side effects are listed?
Acute renal failure is discussed in greater detail in other sections of the label [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5 )]. The most common adverse events reported in at least 1 indication by greater than 10% of adult patients treated with famciclovir are headache and nausea.
What interactions are listed?
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Probenecid: May increase penciclovir levels. Monitor for evidence of penciclovir toxicity. (7.2) 7.1 Potential for Famciclovir to Affect Other Drugs The steady-state pharmacokinetics of digoxin were not altered by concomitant administration of multiple doses of famciclovir (500 mg three times daily). No clinically significant effect on the pharmacokinetics of zidovudine, its metabolite zidovudine glucuronide, or emtricitabine was observed following a single oral dose of 500 mg famciclovir coadministered with zidovudine or emtricitabine. An in vitro study using human liver microsomes suggests that famciclovir is not an inhibitor of CYP3A4enzymes. 7.2 Potential for Other.
Where can I find the official prescribing information?
Review the full prescribing information on DailyMed: https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=08c58224-5920-4853-8c59-ec5fbb66c2f6
⚠️ Disclaimer
This summary is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult your doctor, pharmacist, or other licensed healthcare professional before starting, stopping, or changing any medicine. Read full medical disclaimer.