Penciclovir Tablet 250mg (Penciclovir)

Adult dose

1. Treatment of herpes zoster Adults: Administer famciclovir 250 mg per dose orally 3 times daily for 7 days. It is preferable to start treatment as soon as symptoms appear after infection. 2. Treatment of an initial episode of genital herpes Adults: Administer this medicine 250 mg per dose orally 3 times daily for 5 days. It is preferable to start treatment as soon as symptoms appear after infection. 3. Treatment of an acute recurrent episode of genital herpes Adults: Administer this medicine 125 mg per dose 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 per dose orally 2 times daily. Discontinue treatment periodically every 6～12 months to assess whether the natural course of the disease has changed. 5. Patients with renal impairment: Since the clearance of this medicine is reduced in patients with renal impairment, dose adjustment should be undertaken cautiously. The dosage for these patients is as follows. 1) Treatment of herpes zoster and an initial episode of genital herpes: 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 an acute recurrent episode of genital herpes: 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: 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 formula. Men: {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 undergoing hemodialysis, administration every 48 hours, taking the dialysis interval into account, is preferable. Since 4 hours of hemodialysis reduces the plasma concentration of this medicine by approximately 75%, 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 with hypersensitivity to this medication, its ingredients, or the active substance, penciclovir. Patients with impaired kidney function should use this medication with caution, and dosage adjustments may be necessary. Symptoms such as headaches or nausea may occur during treatment, which are generally mild or moderate. Rarely, blood-related adverse reactions such as thrombocytopenia or leukopenia and neutropenia have been reported. It may affect the central nervous system causing dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, or hallucinations, so driving or operating machinery should be avoided during these symptoms. In the gastrointestinal system, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea may commonly occur. Liver function abnormalities or jaundice may occur, so caution is required regarding liver health. Skin reactions may occur, including rashes, itching, hives, or swelling around the face or eyes, with rare reports of severe skin reactions. Acute renal failure may occur rarely in patients with weak kidney function, so caution is necessary. This medication does not cure genital herpes, so it is advisable to avoid sexual contact during symptomatic periods and maintain safe sex practices. If dizziness or drowsiness occurs during treatment, driving or operating dangerous machinery should be avoided. For patients with impaired liver function, special dosage adjustments are not typically necessary if kidney function is normal, but severe liver impairment may reduce efficacy. While the interaction potential with other medications is low, caution is advised when combined with medications eliminated by the kidneys, such as probenecid, as drug concentrations may increase. The safety of this medication during pregnancy has not been established, so it should only be used cautiously when necessary, and breastfeeding women should consult a physician before use. It is recommended not to use this medication in children under 18 years of age as safety and efficacy have not been confirmed. For the elderly, dosage adjustments are typically not necessary, but adjustments may be needed if kidney function is impaired. In the case of overdose, appropriate treatment should be administered, and hemodialysis can be used to reduce drug concentrations. This medication should be stored in a cool, dry place below 30 degrees Celsius and kept out of reach of children. Care should be taken as transferring to another container may negatively affect quality.

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

This medication may be sensitive to air or moisture, so it should be stored in a tightly sealed container. Additionally, it should be kept in a cool, dry place below 30 degrees Celsius. This helps to maintain the medication's effectiveness for a longer period.

Appearance

Round, white film-coated tablet

Package unit

PTP packaging: 21 tablets