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Drug Uses
This oral medication is useful for:
- Treatment of recurring genital herpes in healthy patients
- Suppressing these herpes in healthy patients
- Treatment of recurring herpes virus infections (simplex) in AIDS patients
- Treating Shingles (herpes zoster)
How to Take Drug
It is taken in either of the following ways:
Episodic Type
The herpes outbreak is treated at the time of occurrence. Dose continues for five days with each day having 2 times of 125-mg single pill.
Suppressive Type
For individuals with severe or frequent outbreaks, they are prescribed for a year with each day having 2 times of 250-mg single pill for suppressing the viruses and preventing the outbreaks.
For HIV Patients
HIV patients are advised to consume 500-mg of medication 2 times in a day for at least 7 days.
The medication can be consumed with food or without it.
Drug Precautions
You should avoid taking the drug, if you have an allergy for Denavir (penciclovir) or at least opt for consultation from your physician. Prior to its dosage, you should confirm your doctor in regards to any present disease, especially related to kidney. In case of kidney disease, you might get adjustment in dosage or extra monitoring during your treatment. Since the drug belongs to Category B of FDA pregnancy, fetus is at risk with it. You should see that if patients are receiving less benefit than it should be avoided.
Drug Interactions
Digoxin's steady-state pharmacokinetics was not modified by simultaneous uses of Famvir by the patient. Again, it did not have any effect on penciclovir pharmacokinetics after a pre-treatment with several doses of Cimetidine, Allopurinol, Zidovudine or Theophylline.
Side Effects
You should immediately cease the usage of Famvir and opt for an urgent attention from your doctor, if you are experiencing allergic reactions similar to
- Difficulty in breathing
- Undesired throat closing
- Swelling in lips, face or tongue
- Hives
There are other less dangerous side effects of Famvir. You should continue taking the medication and continuously communicate with your physician, if you are experiencing vomiting or nausea, diarrhea, headache, tingling in feet or hands, itching or dizziness.
Missed Dose
If you have missed a dose of the drug from your regular schedule, you should take it whenever you remember. However, it should be kept in mind that you should not take more than the prescribed medication on the following day as compensation. This might lead to overdose and further side effects on your body system.
Overdose
You should opt for medical attention when overdose symptoms are notice. Although familiar symptoms for Famvir are unknown, still it belongs to a family where overdose causes hallucinations, kidney damages and seizures.
Storage
The storing temperature of Famvir lies in the range of 59 F & 86 F. Again, the place should be away from the reach of younger family members.
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