Valganciclovir

Valganciclovir may lower the number of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in your body, causing serious and life-threatening problems. Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had a lower number of red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets; or other blood or bleeding problems. Tell your doctor if you have ever developed blood problems as a side effect of a medication similar to valganciclovir such as ganciclovir (Cytovene). Also, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking or have taken any of the following medications: chemotherapy medications such as doxorubicin (Doxil), vinblastine, and vincristine; dapsone; flucytosine (Ancobon); hydroxyurea (Droxia, Siklos); immunosuppressants such as cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune) and tacrolimus (Prograf); medications to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) including didanosine (Videx) or zidovudine (Retrovir, AZT); pentamidine (NebuPent, Pentam); trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim, Septra); or if you have received or are receiving radiation (X-ray) therapy. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: excessive tiredness; weakness; pale skin; dizziness; confusion; fast heartbeat; difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep; shortness of breath; unusual bleeding or bruising; or a sore throat, fever, chills, cough, or other signs of infection.

Valganciclovir may harm the fetus. Do not take valganciclovir if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. If you are female, you will need to take a pregnancy test before you start treatment and use effective birth control during your treatment and for 30 days after your final dose. If you are male and your partner can become pregnant, you should use a condom while taking this medication and for 90 days after your final dose. Talk to your doctor if you have questions about birth control. If you become pregnant while taking valganciclovir, call your doctor immediately.

Valganciclovir may temporarily or permanently decrease fertility in men and women. Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking valganciclovir.

Laboratory animals who were given valganciclovir developed cancer. It is not known if valganciclovir increases the risk of cancer in humans.

Keep all appointments with your doctor, eye doctor, and the laboratory. Your doctor(s) may order regular eye exams and certain tests to check your body’s response to valganciclovir.

Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking valganciclovir.

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Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer’s information for the patient and read it carefully before you start taking this medication and each time you get a refill.

🔔 Why is this medication prescribed?

Valganciclovir is used to treat cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis (eye infection that can cause blindness) in people who have acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Valganciclovir is also used to prevent cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease in people who have received a heart, kidney, or kidney-pancreas transplant and who have a chance of getting CMV disease. Valganciclovir is in a class of medications called antivirals. It works by preventing the spread of CMV disease or slowing the growth of CMV.

🔔 How should this medicine be used?

Valganciclovir comes as a tablet and as an oral solution (liquid) to take by mouth. It is usually taken with food once or twice a day. To help you remember to take valganciclovir, take it around the same time(s) every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take valganciclovir exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Children may take the tablets or the oral solution; however, adults should only take the tablets.

The oral solution will be prepared by your pharmacist and they will also give you a device to measure your dose. Only use the measuring device provided to you to measure your solution.

Shake the oral solution well before each use.

Swallow the tablets whole; do not split, chew, break, or crush them.

Be careful when handling valganciclovir tablets or oral solution. Do not allow your skin, eyes, mouth, or nose to come into contact with broken or crushed valganciclovir tablets or oral solution. If such contact occurs, wash your skin well with soap and water or rinse your eyes well with plain water.

Valganciclovir helps to control CMV but does not cure it. Do not stop taking valganciclovir without talking to your doctor. Stopping to take valganciclovir too soon may cause the amount of CMV in your blood to increase or the virus to become resistant to this medication.