• Cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis in immunocompromised adults:
    • Induction treatment: IV 5mg/kg/dose BD *7-14 days
    • Maintenance: IV 5mg/kg/dose OD OR 6mg/kg 5 days/week
  • Cytomegalovirus (CMV) prophylaxis in adult transplant recipients at risk for CMV disease:
    • Induction: IV 5mg/kg OD infused over 1hr *7-14 days
    • Maintenance: IV 5mg/kg OD *100-120 days after transplant OR IV 6mg/kg OD *5 day/week *100-120 days after transplant
  • Cytomegalovirus (CMV) prophylaxis in HIV (Off-label):
    • IV 5-6mg/kg 5-7days/week (recurrence)
  • CMV colitis or esophagitis in HIV-infected patients (Off-label):
    • Initially IV 5mg/kg/dose BD
      • Once therapy is tolerated, change to valganciclovir PO 900mg BD *21-42 days or until signs and symptoms have resolved
  • Congenital CMV infection (Off-label):
    • <1 month: IV 6mg/kg/dose BD *6/52
  • Acute herpertic keratitis (dendritic ulcers):
    • Initially 1 drop to affected eye 5 times/day ( every 3hr while awake) until the corneal ulcer heals
    • Maintenance: 1 drop to affected eye TDS *1/52
  • Injection:
    • 500mg/10mL
  • Eye ointment:
    • 5mg/g
  • Reconstitute vial with 10 mL of Sterile Water for Injection
  • Do not administer IM, SC, rapid infusion or IVP
  • Administer by slow IV infusion over at least 1h at a final concentration not to exceed 10mg/mL
  • Too rapid infusion can cause increased toxicity and excessive plasma levels
  • Do not to wear contact lenses for the eye ointment

Antiviral

It inhibits replication of viral DNA when phosphorylated to a substrate, which competitively inhibits the binding of deoxyguanosine triphosphate to DNA polymerase

  • Diarrhea
  • Fever
  • Leukopenia
  • Anorexia
  • Vomiting
  • Anemia
  • Neuropathy
  • Diaphoresis
  • Infection
  • Rigors
  • Pruritus
  • Thrombocytopenia
  • Cr elevated
  • ALT or AST elevated
  • Phlebitis

Eye ointment:

  • Visual acuity loss
  • Retinal detachment
  • Vitreous hemorrhage
  • Hypersensitivity reaction (e.g, anaphylaxis) to ganciclovir, valganciclovir or acyclovir

WARNING

  • Hematologic toxicity: Granulocytopenia, anemia, thrombocytopenia, and pancytopenia reported
  • Impairment of fertility: May cause temporary or permanent spermatogenesis inhibition in males and fertility suppression in females
  • Fetal toxicity reported
  • Mutagenesis and carcinogenesis potential
  • Cidofovir

                                   Drug Status

Availability Prescription only
Pregnancy Contraindicated
Breastfeeding Contraindicated
Schedule Not scheduled
BRAND NAME STRENGTH FORMULATION PACK SIZE MANUFACTURER DISTRIBUTOR
Cymevene 500mg/10mL Injection 1’s F.Hoffman-La Roche Surgipharm Ltd
Glovirax 1.5mg/g Eye ointment 5g Galaxy Pharma Galaxy Pharma