Daily Medication Pearl: Famvir (Famciclovir)

Medication Pearl of the Day: Famvir (Famciclovir)

Indication: Famvir, a prodrug of penciclovir, is a nucleoside analog DNA polymerase inhibitor indicated for adults patients who are immunocompetent with herpes labialis (cold sores); treatment of recurrent episodes of genital herpes; and treatment of recurrent episodes, suppressive therapy of recurrent episodes and herpes zoster (shingles).

Insight:

• Dosing: may vary from 500 to 1500 mg a day, based on the diagnosis
• Dosage forms: Tablets are in 125, 250, and 500 mg.
• Adverse events: The most common adverse events reported in at least 1 indication by >10% of adult patients are headaches and nausea.
• Mechanism of action: Famciclovir is an orally administered prodrug of the antiviral agent penciclovir.

Source:

Famvir (famciclovir) tablets label (fda.gov)