Famciclovir

Medical uses

Famciclovir is indicated for the treatment of herpes zoster (shingles), treatment of herpes simplex virus 2 (genital herpes), herpes labialis (cold sores) in immunocompetent patients and for the suppression of recurring episodes of herpes simplex virus 2. It is also indicated for treatment of recurrent episodes of herpes simplex in HIV patients.

Adverse effects

Side effects: mild to extreme stomach upset, headaches, mild fever.

Herpes

Early treatment

Several studies in humans and mice provide evidence that early treatment with famciclovir soon after the first infection with herpes can significantly lower the chance of future outbreaks. Use of famciclovir in this manner has been shown to reduce the amount of latent virus in the neural ganglia compared to no treatment or treatment with valaciclovir. A review of human subjects treated for five days with famciclovir 250 mg three times daily during their first herpes episode found that only 4.2 percent experienced a recurrence within six months after the first outbreak, a fivefold decrease compared to the 19 percent recurrence in acyclovir-treated patients. Neither drug affected latency if treatment was delayed for several months.

History

Initially studied as compound BRL 42810, famciclovir grew out of the study of "several potential prodrugs of penciclovir", that were synthesized by M. R. Harnden and R. L. Jarvest from the Beecham Group plc. in the late 1980s. After showing promise on studies with mice, BRL 42810 (famciclovir) was selected for further evaluation and progression to studies in humans.

References

References

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6. (July 1995). "Famciclovir for the treatment of acute herpes zoster: effects on acute disease and postherpetic neuralgia. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Collaborative Famciclovir Herpes Zoster Study Group". Annals of Internal Medicine.
7. (September 1996). "Famciclovir for treatment of herpesvirus infections". The Annals of Pharmacotherapy.
8. (July 2006). "Single-dose, patient-initiated famciclovir: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial for episodic treatment of herpes labialis". Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
9. (October 2000). "The effects of antiviral therapy on the distribution of herpes simplex virus type 1 to ganglionic neurons and its consequences during, immediately following and several months after treatment". The Journal of General Virology.
10. (July 1998). "Famciclovir and valaciclovir differ in the prevention of herpes simplex virus type 1 latency in mice: a quantitative study". Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.
11. (January 2000). "Persistence of infectious herpes simplex virus type 2 in the nervous system in mice after antiviral chemotherapy". Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.
12. "Observation May Indicate A Possible Clinical Effect On Latency". Doctor's Guide Publishing Limited.
13. (February 1996). "Differential effects of famciclovir and valaciclovir on the pathogenesis of herpes simplex virus in a murine infection model including reactivation from latency". The Journal of Infectious Diseases.
14. (October 1989). "Selection of an oral prodrug (BRL 42810; famciclovir) for the antiherpesvirus agent BRL 39123 [9-(4-hydroxy-3-hydroxymethylbut-l-yl)guanine; penciclovir]". Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.