Famciclovir 250 mg (Famciclovir)

Adult dose

1. Treatment of herpes zoster Adults: Administer famciclovir 250 mg orally 3 times daily for 7 days. It is preferable to start treatment as soon as symptoms appear after infection. 2. Treatment of initial genital herpes infection Adults: Administer this medicine 250 mg orally 3 times daily for 5 days. It is preferable to start treatment as soon as symptoms appear after infection. 3. Treatment of acute recurrent genital herpes infection Adults: Administer this medicine 125 mg orally 2 times daily for 5 days. It is preferable to start treatment during the prodromal period or as soon as symptoms appear after infection. 4. Suppression of recurrent genital herpes Adults: Administer this medicine 250 mg orally 2 times daily. Temporarily discontinue treatment periodically every 6～12 months to observe whether the natural course of the disease has changed. 5. Patients with renal impairment: Because creatinine clearance of this medicine is reduced in patients with renal impairment, dosage adjustment should be undertaken with caution. The dosage and administration for these patients are as follows. 1) Treatment of herpes zoster and initial genital herpes infection: Creatinine clearance (mL/min/1.73㎡) 30～59 250 mg per dose 2 times daily 10～29 250 mg per dose once daily 2) Treatment of acute recurrent genital herpes infection: Creatinine clearance (mL/min/1.73㎡) 30～59 125 mg per dose 2 times daily 10～29 125 mg per dose once daily 3) Suppression of recurrent genital herpes infection: Creatinine clearance (mL/min/1.73㎡) 30～59 250 mg per dose 2 times daily 10～29 125 mg per dose 2 times daily 4) If only serum creatinine is known, creatinine clearance can be calculated using the following formulas. Men: {body weight (kg) × (140-age)}/ {72 × serum creatinine (mg/dL)} Women: 0.85 × the value calculated for men 5) Patients with renal impairment undergoing hemodialysis For patients on hemodialysis, it is preferable to administer this medicine every 48 hours, taking the dialysis interval into account. A 4-hour hemodialysis session reduces the plasma concentration of this medicine by approximately 75%; therefore, administer this medicine immediately after dialysis. The recommended dose is 250mg for patients with herpes zoster and 125mg for patients with genital herpes. 6. Patients with hepatic impairment: No dose adjustment is necessary in patients with chronic compensated liver disease. There is insufficient treatment experience in patients with overt chronic decompensated liver disease; therefore, a clear recommended dose has not been established.

This medication should not be used in patients who have previously had allergic reactions to this drug, its components, or the active substance, penciclovir. Caution is required when using this drug in patients with kidney function impairment, and dose adjustment may be necessary as needed. During treatment, symptoms such as headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea may occur, typically mild to moderate. Hematologic abnormalities can rarely present as thrombocytopenia or leukopenia. In the neurological system, headache, dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, and rarely hallucinations may occur, and caution is warranted. Cardiac symptoms may include rare occurrences of palpitations. Liver function abnormalities or jaundice have been reported infrequently, and skin reactions such as rashes, itching, hives, and swelling around the face or eyes can occur. Acute renal failure may rarely occur in patients with impaired kidney function, so kidney function should be closely monitored. This drug does not cure genital herpes completely, so it is important to avoid sexual contact and maintain safe sexual practices even during treatment if symptoms are present. If dizziness, drowsiness, or confusion occurs during treatment, it is advisable to avoid driving or operating machinery. Patients with mild or moderate liver impairment generally do not require dose adjustments; however, caution should be exercised in patients with severe liver disease due to insufficient research. This drug has a low potential for drug interactions, but monitoring blood concentration changes and considering dose adjustments may be necessary when taking it with some medications. The safety of this drug during pregnancy has not been established, so women who are pregnant or may become pregnant should only use it after consulting a doctor. Breastfeeding women should also consider the potential for drug secretion into breast milk and weigh the benefits against the risks before use. Safety and effectiveness have not been adequately established in pediatric patients under 18 years of age, and its use is not recommended. In older adults, routine dose adjustments are usually not necessary, but adjustments should be made in cases of decreased kidney function. In case of overdose, appropriate treatment should be provided, and hemodialysis can effectively reduce the concentration of the active substance in this drug. This drug should be stored in a dry place below 30 degrees Celsius and kept out of reach of children. Additionally, transferring it to another container can negatively affect quality, so caution should be exercised.

• Headache
• nausea
• thrombocytopenia
• leukopenia and neutropenia
• dizziness
• confusion
• drowsiness
• hallucinations
• palpitations
• vomiting

This drug is sensitive to air and moisture, so it must be stored in a tightly sealed container. Additionally, it is recommended to keep it in a cool, dry place below 30 degrees Celsius.

Appearance

White round film-coated tablets

Package unit

21 tablets/bottle