Famvir

famciclovir

Famciclovir is an effective treatment for herpes zoster and herpes simplex. Famvir is a oral antiviral medication that is indicated for treatment of recurrent genital herpes, suppression of recurrent genital herpes, and treatment of recurrent herpes simplex virus infections (genital herpes and cold sores) in HIV-infected patients.

Famciclovir also relieves spasms of the bladder and urinary tract. Famciclovir is used to treat the symptoms of urinary frequency, urinary urgency, urinary leakage, painful or difficult urination, urinary incontinence, and nighttime urination associated with overactive bladder.

Treatment with Famvir should be started as soon as possible after the first appearance of symptoms (e.g. tingling, burning, blisters). Take each dose with a full glass of water. Famvir can be taken with or without food. Taking Famvir with food may decrease stomach upset. Take all of the Famvir that has been prescribed for you even if you begin to feel better.

Types of Treatment
After the initial outbreak of genital herpes, Famvir can be used in one of three ways:
- Episodic treatment - treat an outbreak of genital herpes as it occurs. The usual dose of Famvir is one 125-mg pill, twice a day, for 5 days.
- Suppressive treatment - if you have frequent or severe outbreaks, you take one 250-mg pill, twice a day, for up to 1 year to suppress the genital herpes virus and help to prevent outbreaks.
- Patients with HIV - Famvir is the only prescription oral antiviral therapy indicated for treating genital or orolabial herpes in people infected with HIV. In patients with herpes simplex and HIV, the dose of Famvir is 500 mg, twice a day, for 7 days.

Famvir can be taken with or without food. It's important to know that Famvir will not prevent the spread of genital herpes to others. During an outbreak, you must avoid sexual contact, and use a condom in between outbreaks.

Efficacy of Famvir
-Episodic Treatment - One clinical study showed that episodic treatment with Famvir significantly relieved all of the symptoms of a genital herpes outbreak. For many people, the duration of the symptoms associated with genital herpes, pain, burning, itching, and tenderness, was reduced. These same people also experienced a faster healing of sores compared to those taking a sugar pill.
-Suppressive Treatment - Many people on twice-daily suppressive therapy with Famvir may go almost a year without experiencing an outbreak.

Before using Famvir, there are some medical conditions may interact with Famvir. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding, if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement, if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances, if you have kidney problems.

Side effects
Stop taking Famvir and seek emergency medical attention if you experience an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives). Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take Famvir and talk to your doctor if you experience nausea or vomiting, a headache, diarrhea, dizziness, tingling in your hands or feet, or itching.