Penciclovir
Drug Info:
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Penciclovir
Brand names: Denavir®
Chemical formula:
- Drug Forms:
- Penciclovir Sodium Topical cream (below)
- Penciclovir skin cream
Penciclovir Sodium Topical cream
What is this medicine?
PENCICLOVIR (pen SYE kloe veer) is an antiviral medicine. It is used to treat infections caused by certain kinds of viruses. Examples of these infections include cold sores and herpes. This medicine will not cure herpes.
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:
•suppressed immune function
•an unusual or allergic reaction to penciclovir, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
•pregnant or trying to get pregnant
•breast-feeding
How should I use this medicine?
This medicine is only for external use on the lips or face. Do not use in the eye or inside the mouth. If you do get this medicine in your eyes, rinse out with plenty of cool tap water. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Wash your hands before and after use. Apply a thin layer of cream to cover all sores or blisters. Begin applying at the first sign of blisters or as soon as you have symptoms. Apply every 2 hours while you are awake or as instructed by your doctor or health care professional. Do not use your medicine more often than directed. Finish the full course prescribed by your doctor or health care professional.
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 may interact with this medicine?
Interactions are not expected. Do not use any other skin products on the affected area without telling your doctor or health care professional.
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?
Even though you are using this medicine, you can still spread the herpes infection to another person. Try to keep the sores (blisters) from making contact with another person's skin.
This medicine works best when applied very early in the course of an infection. Begin treatment at the first sign of infection. These signs include tingling, itching, or pain in the affected area.
What side effects may I notice from receiving this medicine?
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
•altered taste sensation
•dulled sensitivity to touch
•headache
•skin irritation or itching
•skin rash
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 20 and 25 degrees C (68 and 77 degrees F). Do not freeze. 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.
Oxford A-Z of Medicinal Drugs:
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penciclovir
A nucleoside analogue (see antiviral drugs) used for the treatment of cold sores. It is available as a cream.
Side effects:
there may be transient burning or stinging.
Precautions:
penciclovir should be used with caution by those whose immune systems are functioning poorly (due to disease or drug therapy) and by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. The cream should not come into contact with the eyes or mucous membranes.
Proprietary preparations:
Fenistil (pharmacy medicine); Vectavir (prescription only medicine).
| pemetrexed, pegvisomant, peginterferon alfa | |
| penicillamine, penicillins, pentamidine isethionate |
Wikipedia on Answers.com:
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Penciclovir
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|---|---|
| Systematic (IUPAC) name | |
| 2-amino-9-[4-hydroxy-3-(hydroxymethyl)butyl]-6,9-dihydro-3H-purin-6-one | |
| Clinical data | |
| Trade names | Denavir |
| AHFS/Drugs.com | monograph |
| MedlinePlus | a697027 |
| Pregnancy cat. | B1 (Au), B (U.S.) |
| Legal status | S2 (Au) Rx Only (U.S.) |
| Routes | Topical |
| Pharmacokinetic data | |
| Bioavailability | 1.5% (oral), negligible (topical) |
| Protein binding | <20% |
| Metabolism | Viral thymidine kinase |
| Half-life | 2.2–2.3 hours |
| Excretion | Renal |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS number | 39809-25-1  |
| ATC code | D06BB06 J05AB13 |
| PubChem | CID 4725 |
| DrugBank | DB00299 |
| ChemSpider | 4563 |
| UNII | 359HUE8FJC |
| KEGG | D05407 |
| ChEBI | CHEBI:7956 |
| ChEMBL | CHEMBL1540 |
| Chemical data | |
| Formula | C10H15N5O3 |
| Mol. mass | 253.258 g/mol |
| SMILES | eMolecules & PubChem |
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 (what is this?) (verify) |
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Penciclovir (INN) (
/pɛnˈsaɪklɵvɪər/) is a guanine analogue antiviral drug used for the treatment of various herpesvirus infections. It is a nucleoside analogue which exhibits low toxicity and good selectivity. Because penciclovir is absorbed poorly when given orally (by mouth) it is used more as a topical treatment, and is the active ingredient in the cold sore medications Denavir (NDC 0135-0315-52), Vectavir and Fenistil. Famciclovir is a prodrug of penciclovir with improved oral bioavailability.
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Contents
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Efficacy
In herpes labialis, the shortening of duration of healing, pain and detectable virus is maximally one day.[1], compared with the total duration of 2-3 weeks of disease presentation.
Mode of action and selectivity
Penciclovir is inactive in its initial form. Within a virally infected cell a viral thymidine kinase adds a phosphate group to the penciclovir molecule; this is the rate-limiting step in the activation of penciclovir. Cellular (human) kinases then add two more phosphate groups, producing the active penciclovir triphosphate. This activated form inhibits viral DNA polymerase, thus impairing the ability of the virus to replicate within the cell.
The selectivity of penciclovir may be attributed to two factors. First, cellular thymidine kinases phosphorylate the parent form significantly less rapidly than does the viral thymidine kinase, so the active triphosphate is present at much higher concentrations in virally infected cells than in uninfected cells. Second, the activated drug binds to viral DNA polymerase with a much higher affinity than to human DNA polymerases. As a result, penciclovir exhibits negligible cytotoxicity to healthy cells.
The structure and mode of action of penciclovir are very similar to that of other nucleoside analogues, such as the more widely used aciclovir. A difference between aciclovir and penciclovir is that the active triphosphate form of penciclovir persists within the cell for a much longer time than the activated form of aciclovir, so the concentration within the cell of penciclovir will be higher given equivalent cellular doses.
See also
References
- ^ Farmaceutiska Specialiteter i Sverige - the Swedish official drug catalog. [http://www.fass.se Fass.se --> Vectavir. Retrieved on August 12, 2009. Translated from "Tiden för läkning, smärta och påvisbart virus förkortas med upp till ett dygn."
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Oxford A-Z of Medicinal Drugs
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