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Penciclovir

 
Drug Info: Penciclovir
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Brand names: Denavir®



Penciclovir skin cream

What is penciclovir skin cream?

PENCICLOVIR (Denavir®) is an antiviral agent. Penciclovir treats the symptoms of herpes virus infections on the lips or face. Penciclovir will not cure herpes infections; it will help the sores heal faster and may help relieve the pain or discomfort. Generic penciclovir cream is not yet available.

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?

Penciclovir skin cream is only for external use on the lips or face; do not use in the eye or inside the mouth. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Wash your hands before and after use. Apply a thin layer of cream to cover all sores (blisters). Begin applying at the first sign of blisters or as soon as you have symptoms (e.g., tingling sensation, burning). Apply every 2 hours while you are awake or as instructed by your prescriber or health care professional. Do not use your medicine more often than directed. Finish the full course prescribed by your prescriber or health care professional.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, apply it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not use double or extra doses.

What drug(s) may interact with penciclovir?

No interactions have been shown between other medicines and penciclovir cream.

Tell your prescriber or health care professional about other skin products you are using, including non-prescription skin products. Check with your prescriber or health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.

What should I watch for while taking penciclovir?

Even though you are using penciclovir, you can still spread the herpes infection to another person. Try to keep the sores (blisters) from making contact with another person's skin.

Penciclovir works best when applied very early in the course of an infection. Begin treatment at the first sign of infection (such as tingling, itching, or pain in the affected area).

Do not get the cream in your eyes. If you do, rinse out with plenty of cool tap water.

What side effects may I notice from using penciclovir?

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
• dulled sensitivity to touch
• altered taste sensation
• skin irritation or itching
• skin rash

Where can I keep my medicine?

Keep out of the reach of children.

Store at room temperature below 30 degrees C (86 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.

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Wikipedia: Penciclovir
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Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia
Penciclovir
Systematic (IUPAC) name
2-amino-9-[4-hydroxy-3-(hydroxymethyl)butyl]-6,9-dihydro-3H-purin-6-one
Identifiers
CAS number 39809-25-1
ATC code D06BB06 J05AB13
PubChem 4725
DrugBank APRD00041
Chemical data
Formula C10H15N5O3 
Mol. mass 253.258 g/mol
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability 1.5% (oral), negligible (topical)
Protein binding <20%
Metabolism Viral thymidine kinase
Half life 2.2–2.3 hours
Excretion Renal
Therapeutic considerations
Pregnancy cat.

B1 (Au), B (U.S.)
Legal status

S2 (Au) Rx Only (U.S.)
Routes Topical
 Yes check.svgY(what is this?)  (verify)

Penciclovir (INN) (pronounced /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.

Contents

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

  1. ^ 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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Antibiotics and chemotherapeutics for dermatological use (D06)
Antibiotics
Tetracycline and derivatives
Others
Chemotherapeutics
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v • d • e
DNA virus Antivirals (primarily J05, also S01AD and D06BB)
Baltimore I
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inhibitor
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#WHO-EM. ‡Withdrawn from market. CLINICAL TRIALS: †Phase III. §Never to phase III


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Penciclovir skin cream
Crema de penciclovir para la piel
Famciclovir Oral tablet

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