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Indications

REMS


Contraind./Precautions

Contraindicated in:

Use Cautiously in:

Adv. Reactions/Side Effects

GI: abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting

GU: fertility, renal impairment

Hemat: anemia, aplastic anemia, bone marrow depression, NEUTROPENIA, pancytopenia, THROMBOCYTOPENIA

Neuro: headache, insomnia, agitation, ataxia, confusion, dizziness, hallucinations, paresthesia, peripheral neuropathy, psychosis, sedation, SEIZURES

Misc: fever, HYPERSENSITIVITY REACTIONS (INCLUDING ANAPHYLAXIS), INFECTION

Interactions

Drug-drug:

Drug-Food:

Availability

(Generic available)

Route/Dosage

Treatment of CMV Disease

Renal Impairment

Renal Impairment

Renal Impairment

Prevention of CMV Disease in Transplant Patients

Renal Impairment

US Brand Names

Valcyte

Action

  • Valganciclovir is a prodrug, which is rapidly converted to ganciclovir by intestinal and hepatic enzymes. CMV virus converts ganciclovir to its active form (ganciclovir phosphate) inside host cell, where it inhibits viral DNA polymerase.
Therapeutic effects:
  • Antiviral effect directed preferentially against CMV-infected cells.

Classifications

Therapeutic Classification: antivirals

Pharmacokinetics

Absorption: 59.4% absorbed following oral administration, rapidly converted to ganciclovir.

Distribution: Widely distributed to tissues, including CSF.

Metabolism/Excretion: Rapidly converted to ganciclovir; ganciclovir is mostly excreted by the kidneys.

Half-Life: 4.1 hr (intracellular half-life of ganciclovir phosphate is 18 hr).

Time/Action Profile

(ganciclovir plasma concentrations)

ROUTEONSETPEAKDURATION
POrapid2 hr12–24 hr



Patient/Family Teaching

Pronunciation

val-gan-SYE-kloe-veer