Favirox® [Famciclovir]

The drug is taken orally, regardless of the meal, not liquid, squeezed water.
Infections caused by the Varicella zoster virus in patients with normal immunity: The recommended dose is 250 mg 3 times / day, or 500 mg 2 times / day, or 750 mg 1 time / day, for 7 days (acute phase of the disease). For ophthalmic herpes, the recommended dose is 500 mg 3 times / day for 7 days. To reduce the duration and frequency of postherpetic neuralgia, the recommended dose is 250-500 mg 3 times / day for 7 days.
Varicella zoster virus infections in immunocompromised patients: The recommended dose is 500 mg 3 times / day for 10 days.
Herpes simplex type 1 and 2 infections in patients with normal immunity: with primary infection, the recommended dose is 250 mg 3 times / day for 5 days. Treatment should begin as soon as possible, immediately after the appearance of the first symptoms of the disease. With the recurrence of chronic infection, adults are prescribed 125 mg 2 times / day for 5 days. Treatment should begin in the prodromal period or immediately after the onset of symptoms.
Herpes simplex type 1 and 2 infections in immunocompromised patients: The recommended dose is 500 mg 2 times / day for 7 days. Treatment should begin as soon as possible, immediately after the appearance of the first symptoms of the disease. As a suppressive treatment of recurrent herpetic infection, 250 mg 2 times / day is prescribed. The duration of therapy depends on the severity of the disease. A periodic discontinuation of the drug every 12 months is recommended to assess possible changes in the course of the disease. In HIV-infected patients, the effective dose is 500 mg 2 times / day.
Elderly patients: subject to the intact function of the kidneys, famciclovir dosing regimen does not change.
In patients with impaired renal function There is a decrease in clearance of penciclovir. Adequate correction of dosing regimen is recommended depending on QC:
Infections caused by the virus Varicella zoster (regardless of the patient’s immune status) (QC (ml / min / 1.73 sq.m.) - dosing regimen): ≥ 40 - 250 mg / 500 mg 2 times / day or 500 mg 2 times / day, 30-39 - 250 mg 2 or 3 times / day, 10-29 - 125 mg 2 or 3 times / day.
Herpes simplex infections in patients with normal immunity (QC (ml / min / 1.73 sq. M.) - dosing regimen): first episode: ≥ 30 - 250 mg 3 times / day, 10-29 - 125 mg 3 times / day; recurrent infection: ≥ 10 - 125 mg 3 times / day.
Herpes simplex infections in immunocompromised patients (QC (ml / min / 1.73 square meters) - dosing regimen): ≥ 40 - 500 mg 2 times / day, 30-39 - 250 mg 2 times / day, 10-29 - 125 mg 2 times / days
Suppressive therapy for recurrent herpetic infection (QC (ml / min / 1.73 square meters) - dosing regimen): ≥30 - 250 mg 2 times / day, 10-29 - 125 mg 2 times / day.
Patients with renal failure who are on hemodialysis: Since after 4 h of hemodialysis, the concentration of penciclovir in plasma decreases by approximately 75%, the drug should be taken immediately after the hemodialysis procedure. The recommended dose is 250 mg (for patients with herpes zoster) and 125 mg (for patients with genital herpes).
Patients with impaired liver function dose adjustment is not required.

Since the safety of Favirox in pregnant and lactating women has not been studied, its use during pregnancy and lactation is not recommended unless the potential benefits of treatment do not exceed the potential risk. It is not known whether penciclovir is excreted in human breast milk. Famciclovir does not have a pronounced effect on semen, morphology or motility of human sperm. In experimental studies, no embryotoxic and teratogenic effects of famciclovir and penciclovir were detected. Studies on famciclovir rats administered orally have shown that penciclovir is excreted in breast milk. A decrease in fertility was noted in an experimental model in male rats receiving famciclovir at a dose of 500 mg / kg of body weight, in female rats there was no marked decrease in fertility.

Treatment should begin immediately after diagnosis. Caution should be exercised in the treatment of patients with impaired renal function, which may require correction dosing regimen. Special precautions in elderly patients are not required. Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease. During relapses the risk of infection increases. In the presence of clinical manifestations of the disease, even in the case of the start of antiviral treatment, patients should avoid sexual intercourse. During supportive treatment with antiviral agents, the frequency of spread of viral infection is significantly reduced, but the risk of transmission of infection theoretically exists. Therefore, patients should take appropriate protective measures during sexual intercourse. The pills of the drug 125 mg, 250 mg and 500 mg include lactose (26.9 mg, 53.7 mg and 107.4 mg, respectively). Favirox should not be used in patients with rare hereditary disorders associated with galactose intolerance, severe lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption. The transferred doses of Favirox and the duration of treatment. Favirox was well tolerated in the treatment of Varicella zoster virus infection, when administered at a dose of 750 mg 3 times / day for 7 days; in patients with genital herpes when using the drug in a dose of up to 750 mg 3 times / day for 5 days and in a dose of up to 500 mg 3 times / day for 10 days. It was also shown that the drug was well tolerated when taking 250 mg 3 times / day for 12 months for the treatment of genital herpes. Favirox was well tolerated in patients with reduced immunity in the treatment of infections caused by the Varicella zoster virus, when taken 500 mg 3 times / day for 10 days, as well as infections caused by Herpes simplex viruses, when taken up to 500 mg 2 times / day for 7 days or 500 mg 2 times / day for 8 weeks.
Use in pediatrics: efficacy and safety of Favirox in children has not been established.Thus, famciclovir is not recommended for use in children, except in cases where the expected benefit of treatment justifies the potential risk associated with the use of the drug.
Influence on ability to drive motor transport and control mechanisms: Favirox is not expected to affect the ability of patients to drive a car or other mechanisms, but patients who develop Favirox with dizziness, drowsiness, confusion or other central nervous system disorders should refrain from driving a car or controlling machinery during the period of use of the drug.

The described cases of overdose (10.5 g) of Favirox were not accompanied by clinical manifestations.
Treatment: symptomatic and supportive therapy. When non-compliance with the recommendations to reduce the dose of famciclovir with regard to renal function in patients with kidney disease, cases of acute renal failure were noted.
Penciclovir is excreted by hemodialysis. Plasciclovir plasma concentrations are reduced by 75% after hemodialysis for 4.