| Dental Dictionary: ganciclovir |
trade names: Cy-tovene, DHPG; drug class: antiviral; action: inhibits replication of most herpes viruses in vitro; in vivo by selective inhibition of human CMV DNA polymerase and by direct incorporation into viral DNA; uses: cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis in patients with AIDS.
| 5min Related Video: Ganciclovir |
| Drug Info: Ganciclovir |
Brand names: Cytovene®Vitrasert®
Chemical formula:
Ganciclovir Oral capsule
What is this medicine?
GANCICLOVIR (gan SYE kloe veer) is an antiviral medicine. It is used to treat or prevent infections caused by certain kinds of viruses. It is commonly used to prevent and treat cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections of the eye and body.
This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.
What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
•kidney disease
•low blood counts, like low white cell, platelet, or red cell counts
•an unusual or allergic reaction to ganciclovir, acyclovir, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
•pregnant or trying to get pregnant
•breast-feeding
How should I use this medicine?
Take this medicine by mouth with a full glass of water. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Take it with food. Do not open or crush the capsules. Take your medicine at regular intervals. Do not take your medicine more often than directed. Take all of your medicine as directed even if you think you are better. Do not skip doses or stop your medicine early.
Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.
Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine contact a poison control center or emergency room at once.
NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with others.
What if I miss a dose?
If you miss a dose, apply as soon as possible and then continue with your regular schedule. Do not use extra doses, or use for a longer period of time than directed by your prescriber or health care professional.What may interact with this medicine?
•adriamycin
•amphotericin B
•certain medicines for HIV like didanosine, zidovudine
•dapsone
•flucytosine
•imipenem; cilastatin
•pentamidine
•probenecid
•sulfamethoxazole; trimethoprim
This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.
What should I watch for while using this medicine?
Visit your doctor or health care professional for regular check ups. Discuss any new symptoms with your doctor. You will need to have important blood work done while on this medicine. If you have a CMV eye infection have your eyes checked every 4 to 6 weeks.
Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water or fluids daily while taking this medicine to help prevent side effects.
This medicine may cause birth defects to the unborn child if taken during pregnancy. Use contraception while taking this medicine. Males must use barrier contraception during therapy and for 90 days after stopping this medicine. If you think you may have become pregnant and are taking this medicine, contact your doctor right away.
You may get drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs mental alertness until you know how this medicine affects you. Do not stand or sit up quickly, especially if you are an older patient. This reduces the risk of dizzy or fainting spells.
What side effects may I notice from receiving this medicine?
Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:
•allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue
•breathing problems
•changes in vision
•dizziness, lightheaded
•fever or chills, sore throat
•mouth sores
•pain, tingling, numbness in the hands or feet
•trouble passing urine or change in the amount of urine
•unusual bleeding or bruising
•unusually weak or tired
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
•diarrhea
•loss of appetite
•nausea
•stomach pain
This list may not describe all possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Where should I keep my medicine?
Keep out of the reach of children.
Store at room temperature between 15 to 30 degrees C (59 to 86 degrees F). Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.
Last updated: 7/1/2002
Important Disclaimer: The drug information provided here is for educational purposes only. It is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the diagnosis, treatment and advice of a medical professional. This drug information does not cover all possible uses, precautions, side effects and interactions. It should not be construed to indicate that this or any drug is safe for you. Consult your medical professional for guidance before using any prescription or over the counter drugs.
| Medical Dictionary: gan·ci·clo·vir |
An antiviral agent used in the treatment of opportunistic cytomegalovirus infections.
| Veterinary Dictionary: ganciclovir |
A synthetic nucleoside analog of guanine with antiviral activity against herpesviruses, especially cytomegalovirus.
| Wikipedia: Ganciclovir |
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Ganciclovir
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| Systematic (IUPAC) name | |
| 2-amino-9-{[(1,3-dihydroxypropan-2-yl)oxy]methyl}-6,9-dihydro-3H-purin-6-one | |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS number | 82410-32-0 |
| ATC code | J05AB06 S01 |
| PubChem | 3454 |
| DrugBank | APRD00263 |
| Chemical data | |
| Formula | C9H13N5O4 |
| Mol. mass | 255.23 g/mol |
| Pharmacokinetic data | |
| Bioavailability | 5% (oral) |
| Metabolism | guanylate kinase (CMV UL97 gene product) |
| Half life | 2.5–5 hours |
| Excretion | Renal |
| Therapeutic considerations | |
| Pregnancy cat. | |
| Legal status |
S4 (Au), POM (UK), ℞-only (U.S.) |
| Routes | IV, oral, intravitreal |
 (what is this?) (verify) |
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Ganciclovir (INN) (pronounced /ɡænˈsaɪkləvɪr/) is an antiviral medication used to treat or prevent cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections. It was first synthesized by Julien Verheyden and John Martin at Syntex Research in California in 1980.Ganciclovir sodium is marketed under the trade names Cytovene and Cymevene (Roche). Ganciclovir for ocular use is marketed under the trade name Vitrasert (Bausch & Lomb). A prodrug form with improved oral bioavailability (valganciclovir) has also been developed.
Contents |
Ganciclovir is a synthetic analogue of 2'-deoxy-guanosine. It is first phosphorylated to a deoxyguanosine triphosphate (dGTP) analogue. This competitively inhibits the incorporation of dGTP by viral DNA polymerase, resulting in the termination of elongation of viral DNA.
Ganciclovir is indicated for:[1]
It is also used for acute CMV colitis in HIV/AIDS and CMV pneumonitis in immunosuppressed patients.
Ganciclovir is commonly associated with a range of serious haematological adverse effects. Common adverse drug reactions (≥1% of patients) include: granulocytopenia, neutropenia, anaemia, thrombocytopenia, fever, nausea, vomiting, dyspepsia, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, flatulence, anorexia, raised liver enzymes, headache, confusion, hallucination, seizures, pain and phlebitis at injection site (due to high pH), sweating, rash, itch, increased serum creatinine and blood urea concentrations.[1]
Ganciclovir is considered a potential human carcinogen, teratogen, and mutagen. It is also considered likely to cause inhibition of spermatogenesis. Thus, it is used judiciously and handled as a cytotoxic drug in the clinical setting.[1][2]
Absorption of the oral form is very limited - about 5% fasting, about 8% with food. It achieves a concentration in the central nervous system of about 50% of the plasma level. About 90% of plasma ganciclovir is eliminated unchanged in the urine, with a half-life of 2-6 hrs, depending on renal function (elimination takes over 24 hours in end-stage renal disease).
Acute infections are treated in two phases:
Stable disease is treated with 1000 mg orally three times daily. Similar dosing is used to prevent disease in high-risk patients, such as those infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or those with organ transplants.
Ganciclovir is also available in slow-release formulations for insertion into the vitreous humour of the eye, as treatment for CMV retinitis (associated with HIV infection).
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This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
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| Cytomegalovirus Infection: Treatment |
| Antiviral Therapy |
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 | Dental Dictionary. Mosby's Dental Dictionary. Copyright © 2004 by Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved. Read more |
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| Drug Info. Gold Standard. Copyright © 2008 by Gold Standard. All rights reserved. Read more |
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| Medical Dictionary. The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Read more |
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| Veterinary Dictionary. Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary 3rd Edition. Copyright © 2007 by D.C. Blood, V.P. Studdert and C.C. Gay, Elsevier. All rights reserved. Read more |
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| Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Ganciclovir". Read more |
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