• Treatment of cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis in patients with HIV (alone or in combination with ganciclovir).
• Treatment of acyclovir-resistant mucocutaneous herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections in immunocompromised patients.

Contraindicated in:

• Hypersensitivity
• HF (due to sodium content)
• Patients on sodium-restricted diets
• Hemodialysis
• Lactation: Lactation.

Use Cautiously in:

• Renal impairment (dose ↓ required if CCr ≤1.4–1.6 mL/min/kg)
• Seizure disorders
• QT interval prolongation or cardiovascular disease
• Hypokalemia or hypomagnesemia (must be corrected prior to therapy)
• OB: Safety not established in pregnancy
• Pedi: Safety and effectiveness not established in children.

CV: QT interval prolongation, chest pain, edema, palpitations, TORSADES DE POINTES.

Derm: ↑ sweating, pruritus, rash, skin ulceration.

EENT: conjunctivitis, eye pain, vision abnormalities.

F and E: hypocalcemia, hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, hyperphosphatemia, hypophosphatemia.

GI: diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, abnormal taste sensation, anorexia, constipation, dyspepsia.

GU: renal failure, albuminuria, dysuria, nocturia, polyuria, urinary retention.

Hemat: anemia, leukopenia, neutropenia.

Local: pain/inflammation at injection site.

MS: arthralgia, myalgia, back pain, involuntary muscle contraction.

Neuro: headache, anxiety, ataxia, confusion, depression, dizziness, fatigue, hypoesthesia, neuropathy, paresthesia, SEIZURES, tremor, weakness.

Resp: cough, dyspnea.

Misc: fever, chills, flu-like syndrome, HYPERSENSITIVITY REACTIONS (INCLUDING ANAPHYLAXIS, URTICARIA, AND ANGIOEDEMA), MALIGNANCY.

Drug-Drug:

• QT interval prolonging medications, including quinidine, procainamide, amiodarone, sotalol, chlorpromazine, thioridazine, moxifloxacin, pentamidine, and methadone, may ↑ risk of QT interval prolongation; avoid concurrent use.
• Concurrent use with parenteral pentamidine may result in severe, life-threatening hypocalcemia.
• Risk of nephrotoxicity may be ↑ by concurrent use of other nephrotoxic agents, including amphotericin B, aminoglycosides, cyclosporine, acyclovir, methotrexate, tacrolimus, and pentamidine (IV).

(Generic available)

• Solution for injection: 24 mg/mL;

Cytomegalovirus Retinitis

• IV (Adults): 60 mg/kg every 8 hr or 90 mg/kg every 12 hr for 2–3 wk, then 90–120 mg/kg/day as a single dose. Dose ↓ required for any degree of renal impairment.

Herpes Simplex Virus

• IV (Adults): 40 mg/kg every 8–12 hr for 2–3 wk or until healing occurs.

Foscavir

• Prevents viral replication by inhibiting viral DNA-polymerase and reverse transcriptase.

• Virustatic action against susceptible viruses including CMV.

Therapeutic Classification: antivirals

Absorption: IV administration results in complete bioavailability.

Distribution: Variable penetration into CSF. May concentrate in and be slowly released from bone.

Metabolism/Excretion: 80–90% excreted unchanged in urine.

Half-life: 3 hr (in patients with normal renal function); longer half-life of 90 hr may reflect release of drug from bone.

Vocarvi

• Inform patient that foscarnet is not a cure for CMV retinitis. Progression of retinitis may continue in immunocompromised patients during and after therapy. Advise patients to have regular ophthalmologic exams.
• May cause dizziness and seizures. Caution patient to avoid driving or other activities requiring alertness until response to medication is known.
• Advise patient to notify health care professional immediately if perioral tingling or numbness in the extremities or paresthesia occurs during or after infusion. If these signs of electrolyte imbalance occur during administration, infusion should be stopped and lab samples for serum electrolyte concentrations obtained immediately.
• Emphasize the importance of frequent follow-up exams to monitor renal function and electrolytes.

foss-KAR-net

NDC Code^*

• 76310- Clinigen Healthcare Ltd.
  • 76310-024- Foscavir
    • 76310-024-01- 10 CARTON in 1 CARTON (76310-024-01) > 1 BOTTLE in 1 CARTON (76310-024-11) > 250 mL in 1 BOTTLE

• 76310- Clinigen Healthcare Ltd.
  • 76310-024- Foscavir
    • 76310-024-25- 10 CARTON in 1 CARTON (76310-024-25) > 1 BOTTLE in 1 CARTON (76310-024-15) > 250 mL in 1 BOTTLE