Ganciclovir
Description
Ganciclovir is an antiviral medicine 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 be used with caution in patients with a known history of seizure disorders due to the increased risk of recurrent seizures.
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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Ganciclovir
- 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 Ganciclovir
What is it prescribed for?
- Cytomegalovirus Retinitis (CMV)
- Cytomegalovirus Prophylaxis
- Acute herpetic keratitis
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Concerns
Commonly asked questions
- Onset of actionThe amount of time required for this medicine to show its effect is not clinically established.
- Duration of effectThe 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. Discuss all the risks and benefits with your doctor before taking this medicine.
Allergy
This medicine is not recommended for use in patients with a known allergy to ganciclovir or any other medicine of the same class.
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. Discuss all the risks and benefits with your doctor before taking this medicine.
General warnings
Hematologic Toxicity
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 patient's 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.
Renal dysfunction
Ganciclovir should be used with extreme caution in patients with renal diseases due to the increased risk of severe side effects. Appropriate dose adjustments may be necessary based on the clinical condition of the patient.
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 an oral dose of Ganciclovir is missed, take the dose as soon as you remember it. If it is almost 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.
Since the intravenous form of this medicine is usually administered by a qualified healthcare professional in the clinical or hospital setting, the likelihood of missing a dose is very low.
Gel: If the dose Ganciclovir gel is missed, instill it as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up for the missed dose.
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
Clozapine
Infliximab
Zidovudine
Didanosine
Disease interactions
Bone marrow suppression
This medicine should be used with extreme caution in patients with a known history of blood disorders and bone marrow suppression due to the increased risk of worsening of the patient's condition. You may require a dose adjustment and more frequent complete blood count monitoring to safely use this medicine. Replacement with a suitable alternative may be necessary based on the clinical condition of the patient.
Renal Dysfunction
Ganciclovir should be used with extreme caution in patients with kidney diseases due to the increased risk of severe adverse effects. Kidney function should be assessed before initiating the treatment. Appropriate dose adjustments or replacement with a suitable alternative may be required based on the clinical condition.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Use Ganciclovir exactly as instructed by the doctor. Do not use larger or smaller amounts than prescribed. Ensure that the course of treatment is completed. Report any adverse effects to the doctor on priority. Do not stop the use of this medicine without consulting your doctor.
Miscelleneous
How it works
Ganciclovir works by blocking the growth and reproduction of cytomegalovirus. This helps in preventing the spread of the disease.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Purine nucleosides
Schedule
Schedule H
[Internet]. 2017 [cited 28 August 2017]. Available from:
DailyMed: Ganciclovir capsule [Internet]. Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2017 [cited 28 August 2017]. Available from:
Ganciclovir - DrugBank [Internet]. Drugbank.ca. 2017 [cited 28 August 2017]. Available from:
Ganciclovir: MedlinePlus Drug Information [Internet]. Medlineplus.gov. 2017 [cited 28 August 2017]. Available from:
Prescribing medicines in pregnancy database [Internet]. Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). 2017 [cited 28 August 2017]. Available from:
Information on this page was last updated on 14 Sep 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.