FAMVIR® (famciclovir) is a prescription oral
antiviral medication that is indicated for treatment
of recurrent genital herpes, suppression of recurrent
genital herpes, and treatment of recurrent herpes
simplex virus infections (genital herpes and cold
sores) in HIV-infected patients.
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Famvir®
Types of Treatment
After the initial outbreak* of genital herpes, FAMVIR
can be prescribed in one of three ways:
- Episodic treatment - your doctor treats an
outbreak of genital herpes as it occurs. The usual
dose of FAMVIR is one 125-mg pill, twice a day, for
5 days.?
- Suppressive treatment ? if you have frequent
or severe outbreaks, you take one 250-mg pill, twice
a day, for up to 1 year?? to suppress the genital
herpes virus and help to prevent outbreaks.
- Patients with HIV - FAMVIR is the only prescription
oral antiviral therapy indicated for treating genital
or orolabial herpes in people infected with HIV. In
patients with herpes simplex and HIV, the dose of
FAMVIR is 500 mg, twice a day, for 7 days.?
FAMVIR can be taken with or without food.
When discussing treatment options with your doctor,
be sure to discuss your lifestyle, how you feel about
outbreaks, the pain and severity of your symptoms, and
the frequency of your outbreaks. Be sure to talk with
your doctor about the type of treatment (episodic or
suppressive) that would be most appropriate for you.
For episodic and suppressive treatment, always take
your medicine as prescribed by your doctor. If you are
taking any other prescription or over-the-counter medications,
please be sure to tell your doctor. No medication has
been proven to prevent the transmission of genital herpes.
It's important to know that FAMVIR will not prevent
the spread of genital herpes to others. During an outbreak,
you must avoid sexual contact, and use a condom in between
outbreaks.
Efficacy of FAMVIR
- Episodic Treatment
One clinical study showed that episodic treatment
with FAMVIR significantly relieved all of the symptoms
of a genital herpes outbreak. For many people, the
duration of the symptoms associated with genital herpes,
pain, burning, itching, and tenderness, was reduced.
These same people also experienced a faster healing
of sores compared to those taking a sugar pill.
- Suppressive Treatment
Many people on twice-daily suppressive therapy with
FAMVIR may go almost a year without experiencing an
outbreak.
Side Effects and Other Important Information
FAMVIR should not be taken by patients with known hypersensitivity
to the product, its components, and DENAVIR® (penciclovir
cream).
FAMVIR has no clinically significant interactions
with cimetidine, allopurinol, theophylline, digoxin,
or zidovudine (AZT).
Concurrent use of FAMVIR with probenecid or other
drugs significantly eliminated by active renal tubular
secretion may result in increased plasma concentrations
of penciclovir.
FAMVIR does not contain any dyes.
FAMVIR (famciclovir) is not for everyone. In clinical
studies with FAMVIR, the most commonly reported side
effects included headache, nausea, and diarrhea. Ask
your doctor if FAMVIR is right for you.? If you have
kidney problems, your doctor will determine if FAMVIR
is appropriate, and if so, what the right dose is for
you. See the full Prescribing Information for more information
about FAMVIR.
* The efficacy of FAMVIR has not been established
for the treatment of an initial outbreak of genital
herpes infection.
? If you have impaired kidney function, your doctor
will determine the appropriate dose for you.
? The safety and efficacy of FAMVIR therapy beyond
1 year of treatment have not been established.
No antiviral has been proven to prevent the transmission
of genital herpes.
There is no cure for genital herpes.
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