Famvir

Famvir is a medical drug that was developed to combat various viruses. During development, pharmacists achieved that viruses are destroyed directly from the cellular level. The use of the main active substance - penciclovir - helps to achieve very rare cases of re-infection with viruses. Famvir not only reduces symptoms that are pronounced, but also minimizes the consequences of the disease, for example - postherpetic neuralgia.

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Indications Famvir

The medication is prescribed for the following diseases:

• Infectious diseases caused by herpes zoster. This group also includes postherpetic neuralgia and ophthalmic herpes.
• Infectious diseases caused by the first and second type of herpes, primary infection, suppression of recurrent infection.
• Infectious diseases caused by herpes viruses in patients with reduced immunity.

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Famvir for herpes

Penciclovir is an active substance that fights viruses at the cellular level. Therefore, if any herpes symptoms appear in the body, it is necessary to start using the medicine.

Taking the medicine for herpes penetrates into those cells of the body that have been affected by the virus. The medicine is in the infected cells for more than twelve hours and actively affects the very essence of the disease - the viral replication of desixoribonucleic acid is destroyed.

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Famvir for children

Children are patients with unstable and weak immunity. Therefore, if a child has a viral disease, it is possible to start taking medication.

But be extremely careful before starting to take the medicine for children. As of now, there are not enough studies published that prove a 100% guarantee of safe and effective treatment for a child.

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Release form

The medication has different forms of release. They depend on how many milligrams of the active substance are in one tablet.

• Pills that are coated with a white shell. They are round, biconvex, have cut edges. On one side is engraved "FV", on the back is the dosage of 125 milligrams.
• Pills that are coated with a white shell. They are round, biconvex, have cut edges. On one side is engraved "FV", on the back is a dosage of 250 milligrams.
• Pills that are coated with a white shell. They are oval-shaped, biconvex, and have cut edges. On one side is written the engraving "FV500" - the dosage of the medicine is indicated.

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Pharmacodynamics

The drug has the main active substance penciclovir. Famvir is quickly converted into penciclovir, which in turn demonstrates negative activity against herpes viruses of the first and second types, chickenpox virus, Epstein-Barr virus and cytomegalovirus.
The antiviral effect in the pharmacodynamics of Famvir as a result of transformation into penciclovir was manifested in various models of herpes in animals. In cells that were infected with the virus, penciclovir is converted into monophosphate within a short period of time.

In those cells that have not been exposed to the herpes virus, the effect of penciclovir concentration of penciclovir triphosphate is very small - its indicator tends to zero. Accordingly, the pharmacodynamics of the drug cannot negatively affect healthy cells of the body and interacts only with infected locations.

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Pharmacokinetics

Pharmacokinetics involves three stages of activity after oral administration.

Absorption into the blood occurs within a few hours after administration. Bioavailability of Famvir reaches seventy-seven percent.

Distribution in the body occurs to infected cells simultaneously, regardless of the frequency of administration. Less than twenty percent of the drug binds to blood plasma.

Pharmacokinetics of the drug provides for the elimination of the drug two hours after administration. Metabolites are excreted through urine.

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Dosing and administration

The drug is taken orally, one tablet at a time. Each pill should be washed down with plenty of water. Treatment should begin with the first symptoms that may indicate the presence of viral pathogens.

Depending on the disease itself and the degree of its progression, the dose is calculated as follows:

• In the acute phase - 250 milligrams three times a day or 500 milligrams twice a day. In some cases, it is possible to take 750 milligrams once a day. The course must be continued for seven days.
• Those who have been infected with the virus and have a weakened immune system need to take 500 milligrams three times a day. The course lasts ten days.
• Herpes virus and infections that provoke it – 250 milligrams of the drug three times a day. Treatment should be continued for five days. But it is important to consider that taking the medication should be started after the first manifestations of unpleasant symptoms.
• In case of recurrence of symptoms - the instructions for use provide 125 milligrams of the drug twice a day. Treatment should be continued for five days. Treatment should be started after the first symptoms of the disease appear.
• For those infected with herpes and with a weak immune system, the treatment duration is seven days, taking 500 milligrams twice a day.

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Use Famvir during pregnancy

The use of the drug during pregnancy and lactation has not been studied in detail and not enough research has been conducted. Therefore, the use of the drug during pregnancy and lactation is not recommended. In extreme cases, the drug can be used if the risk to the woman's health significantly exceeds all possible consequences.

Also, at the moment there are no publications on whether Famvir is transmitted from mother to child through breast milk.

But there are experimental studies that show that penciclovir does not have a negative effect on the fetus.

Contraindications

It is necessary to be careful when taking this medication, as there are the following contraindications to the use of the drug.

It is necessary to replace the antiviral medication if you have hypersensitivity to one of the components of the drug.

You must completely stop taking the medicine if you have hypersensitivity to penciclovir.

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Side effects Famvir

During various clinical studies, the good tolerability of the drug by different subjects was proven. Side effects of the drug manifested themselves in extremely rare cases - these were either headaches or attacks of mild nausea. The following side effects may be observed:

• Thrombocytopenia,
• Headache, slight and transient dizziness, drowsiness is possible.
• Mild nausea, vomiting possible in elderly people.
• Skin rashes accompanied by mild itching and redness.

Overdose

An overdose may occur when taking a large dose at the same time - more than ten grams. However, no severe clinical manifestations occur. The drug is removed by hemodialysis, which can be used in extreme cases. The drug is completely removed from the blood after four hours.

Interactions with other drugs

During clinical studies, no significant indicator of pharmacokinetic interaction of Famvir with other medications was observed. Also, no effect on cytochrome systems was detected.

Medicines that block the tubules may increase the level of Famvir in the blood.

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Storage conditions

The climatic conditions of the place where the medicine is stored should include a dry place that will be protected from direct sunlight and various light sources. The temperature at which the medicine will be stored should not exceed thirty degrees Celsius.

The storage area must be securely protected from children and pets. If the medicine is not planned to be used for a long time, the packaging must be well sealed, the blister with tablets is not damaged. Otherwise, if the storage conditions are violated, the shelf life and medicinal properties of the medicine are significantly reduced.

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Special instructions

Instructions for use

Famvir is an antiviral medication, so it is strictly forbidden to use it on your own without a diagnosis from your doctor.

It is necessary to stop taking the medication from time to time once a year in order to be able to track the progress of the disease.

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How to take Famvir?

The medicine is designed to combat viral pathogens at the cellular level, so it is necessary to take the medicine until the infection is completely destroyed. For those who have a strong immune system, the course of treatment is designed for a seven-day period. And for those patients whose immunity is weakened after an illness, for the elderly or children, the course of treatment can be extended to ten days. Taking the medicine does not depend on the time of day or food intake. But depending on the dose, it can be divided into several doses per day.

Famvir tablets

Famvir in tablet form, unlike ointment, fights the virus in the body at the lowest - cellular level. Penetrating inside and starting the transformation processes in human blood, Famvir tablets destroy viral DNA. And the stronger the dose, the longer your treatment, the higher the probability of a full recovery.

Famvir 500

Famvir 500 is the largest dose of the drug. It is prescribed to patients who have reduced immunity or in case of advanced disease. Also, Famvir 500 milligrams can be prescribed to HIV-infected people, since such patients have the most vulnerable immune system to various lesions.

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Famvir 250

Famvir 250 is the average dose of the drug. Famvir 250 is prescribed most often. The drug is taken several times a day with this dose by patients with primary viral infections. The course of treatment with Famvir 250 is usually a week.

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Famvir 125

Famvir 125 is the lowest dose of this medication. Famvir 125 is prescribed from the first days of herpes detection or as an accompanying medication for the treatment of a viral infection. The course is designed for several days. Famvir 125 can be taken as a preventive measure against repeated manifestations of viral infections.

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Famvir ointment

When a viral infection occurs, it is important not only to get rid of the internal problem, but also to eliminate external irritants. In some cases, herpes can spread to the skin of the face (most often, the virus awakens on the lips). Therefore, it is necessary to carry out complex treatment - internal and external. Tablets will cope with the internal pathogen of herpes, and an ointment will destroy the viral infection from the outside. The ointment affects only the infected area of the skin, eliminates unpleasant symptoms and heals wounds that remain after herpes on the skin.

Price

The price of the drug may scare off some buyers, as it is higher than the average cost of antiviral drugs on the pharmaceutical market. But after a course of treatment with this drug, you can be sure that your body has gotten rid of the viral infection.

Analogues

Antiviral drugs may have different components, but at the same time act on the pathogen in the same way. Analogues of the drug differ in price, country of manufacture and active components. In addition, other drugs may have a different effect on the entire body, cause other reactions. At the moment, the following analogues of the drug Famvir exist: Minaker, Famciclovir, Famciclovir - Tera, Valaciclovir, Valtrex, Acyclovir.

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Famvir or Valtrex

For those who do not know how to decide between drugs, you should pay attention first of all to the active components of the drugs, cost and possible side effects. Both drugs have the same active substance - penciclovir. The drug Famvir undergoes more stages of purification, and therefore has fewer side effects, unlike Valtrex.

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Famciclovir or Famvir

Those who choose between Famciclovir or Famvir need to know that they are the same drug, which is represented by one active substance - penciclovir. Famvir is one of the trade names of the drug.

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Famvir or Acyclovir

When choosing between drugs, it is important not to choose between the price, but to choose, first of all, a more effective and harmless drug for the body as a whole. Penciclovir has a deeper therapeutic effect, unlike acyclovir - the active substance in the drug Acyclovir.

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Reviews

The drug has mostly positive reviews from both users and doctors. Thanks to its active ingredient, the fight against infection is fast and effective – within ten days.

The only thing that can scare off buyers before starting to take the drug is its price. But when treating a viral infection, the price is the last factor to pay attention to. In first place, of course, is the effectiveness and minimal possible side effects.

Shelf life

If all storage conditions are met, the medicine does not lose its therapeutic properties. But if the temperature at which the medicine was stored was exceeded for a long time or high humidity was maintained in the room, the seal of the package was broken, the shelf life of the medicine is reduced. Always check the expiration date of the medicine before starting to take it.
The shelf life of the drug is thirty-six months from the date of manufacture.

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