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Valganciclovir
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Description
Valganciclovir belongs to the class of antiviral medicines. It is used for the prevention of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection which may occur after an organ transplantation. It is also used to treat CMV eye infection in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). This medicine should not be taken if you are pregnant or are planning to get pregnant.
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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Valganciclovir
Chills
Headache
Shortness of breath
Diarrhea
Abdominal and stomach pain
Nausea and Vomiting
Back pain
Seizures
Swelling of legs
Itching
Decreased urine output
Uses of Valganciclovir
What is it prescribed for?
Cytomegalovirus Retinitis
Valganciclovir is used in the treatment of Cytomegalovirus Retinitis in adults with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Cytomegalovirus Prophylaxis
Valganciclovir is used in the prevention of Cytomegalovirus infection in patients undergoing an organ transplantation.
Concerns
Commonly asked questions
Onset of action
The amount of time required for this medicine to show its effect is not clinically established.Duration of effect
The time until which this medicine remains active in the body is not clinically established.Safe with alcohol?
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.Is it habit forming?
No habit forming tendency has been reported.Usage in pregnancy?
This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women except in life-threatening conditions. Discuss all the risks and benefits with your doctor before taking this medicine.Usage while breast-feeding?
This medicine is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women unless absolutely necessary. Your doctor may advise you to discontinue the medicine or to discontinue breastfeeding based on your clinical condition.
Allergy
This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with a known allergy to valganciclovir or ganciclovir or any other medicines of the same class.
Hemodialysis
This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with severe kidney disease and in patients who are undergoing hemodialysis.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
This medicine is not recommended for use in pregnant women except in life-threatening conditions. Discuss all the risks and benefits with your doctor before taking this medicine.
Breast-feeding
This medicine is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women unless absolutely necessary. Your doctor may advise you to discontinue the medicine or to discontinue breastfeeding based on your clinical condition.
General warnings
Impairment of Fertility
This medicine should be used with caution due to the increased risk of impairment of fertility in both men and women. Replacement with a suitable alternative may be required based on the clinical condition of the patient. Do not stop the use of any medicine without consulting your doctor.
Missed Dose
If a dose of Valganciclovir is missed, take the dose as soon as you remember it. If it is almost the time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next dose. Do not double the dose to make up for the missed one.
Overdose
Seek emergency medical treatment or contact the doctor in case of an overdose.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Instructions
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine
Infliximab
Trimethoprim
Zidovudine
Didanosine
Disease interactions
Hematologic Toxicities
This medicine should be used with caution in patients with a known history of blood disorders due to the increased risk of worsening of the condition. Close monitoring of blood cell counts is necessary while receiving treatment with this medicine. Replacement with a suitable alternative may be required based on the clinical condition of the patient.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Take Valganciclovir exactly as instructed by the doctor. Do not take larger amounts than prescribed. Ensure that the course of treatment is completed. Report any adverse effects to the doctor on priority. Do not stop taking this medicine without consulting your doctor.
Miscelleneous
How it works
Valganciclovir works by blocking the growth and reproduction of Cytomegalovirus. This helps in preventing the spread of the disease.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Purine nucleosides, Antiviral agents
Schedule
N/A
[Internet]. 2017 [cited 28 July 2017]. Available from:
DailyMed - VALGANCICLOVIR- valganciclovir hydrochloride tablet, film coated [Internet]. Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2017 [cited 28 July 2017]. Available from:
Valganciclovir: MedlinePlus Drug Information [Internet]. Medlineplus.gov. 2017 [cited 28 July 2017]. Available from:
Prescribing medicines in pregnancy database [Internet]. Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). 2017 [cited 28 July 2017]. Available from:
Information on this page was last updated on 4 Aug 2017
Disclaimer
We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.