What is Foscavir?
Foscavir, an antiviral medication, prevents the spread of certain viruses in your body. Foscavir may be prescribed to people living with HIV to help treat cytomegalovirus retinitis (CMV). Foscavir can also be used to treat the herpes simplex (HSV) virus in patients with a weak immune system. It is given to treat HSV when other antiviral drugs have failed. Foscavir does not cure CMV or HSV. Your virus can progress during or even after treatment. Foscavir can be used in other ways not mentioned in this guide.
Side effects of Foscavir
Immediately seek medical help if you experience symptoms of an allergic reaction such as difficulty breathing, hives or swelling of your face, lips or throat.
Foscavir may cause serious side effects. If you experience:
- Pain or burning after urinating;
- A seizure (convulsions);
- Headache with severe chest pain, dizziness, and fainting; fast or pounding pulsebeats
- Low white blood cell counts: fever, swollen gingivae, sores on the lips, sores on the skin, flu or cold symptoms, coughing, difficulty breathing
- Low red blood cells, or anemia, can cause pale skin, a feeling of being light-headed, shortness of breath, a rapid pulse rate, and difficulty concentrating.
- Low calcium: numbness, tingling, or rapid heartbeat or slowness; muscle contraction or tightness; or overactive reflexes.
- Lower potassium can result in constipation, numbness or tingling sensations, fatigue, muscle weakness, slow heart rate and fainting; or other adverse reactions like constipation.
- Kidney problems: little or no urination; painful or difficult urination; swelling of the feet or ankles; and feeling tired or short of breath.
Foscavir can cause irritation in the urine. Also, you may develop ulcers or sores around the urethra. This is where urine exits your bladder. While receiving this medication, drink plenty of water and keep your genital region clean.
Foscavir side effects may include:
- Fever, flu-like symptoms;
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;
- Chest pain, back pain;
There may be other side effects.To seek medical advice regarding side effects, call your physician directly. Alternatively, the FDA can be reached at 1-800-FDA-1088 in order to report them.
Similar/related drugs
Acyclovir, Valacyclovir, Valtrex, Zovirax, Famciclovir, Valganciclovir, and Valcyte
Warnings
Foscavir may harm your kidneys. Foscavir can harm your kidneys. You will need to test your kidney function as well as electrolytes such as potassium, sodium, magnesium, and phosphorus. When you inject foscavir, it can have dangerous or unwanted effects.
Before you take this drug
If you have an allergy to foscavir, then it is best not to use the drug.
Tell your doctor about any of the following to ensure that Foscavir will be safe for you:
- Kidney disease
- Heart disease heart rhythm disorder
- Personal or family history long-QT syndrome
- An electrolyte imbalance is a low level of potassium, calcium, or magnesium in the blood.
- Epilepsy or another seizure disorder
- If you're on a diet low in salt,
Foscavir may harm an unborn child. Inform your doctor immediately if you are pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant. Foscarnet does not pass into breast milk, making it unknown whether its effects could harm a baby who is breastfeeding. Therefore, this medicine should not be taken while breastfeeding.
How to take Foscavir?
Please follow all the instructions on the prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally alter your dosage. Use this medication only as prescribed. Do not exceed the recommended dose or use it for longer. Foscavir can be injected through an IV with an infusion pump. The medication enters the bloodstream through a catheter inserted into the vein. You will be shown how to use the infusion pump by a healthcare provider. You should not inject this medicine yourself if you don't know how to properly give an injection or dispose of needles, IV tubes, and other items that were used to inject it. If you are dehydrated, IV fluids may be administered to prevent dehydration. Foscavir may need to be mixed with a liquid before use. You should know how to mix and store your injections if you use them at home. This medicine should not be given with other medications in the same IV.
The foscavir must be colorless and clear. Shake the medicine gently if it appears to be separated. If the color of your medicine has changed or if there are particles in the medication, do not use it. For new medication, call your pharmacist. It can take two hours or more to inject the medicine. Foscavir, injected too quickly, can have dangerous or unwanted effects. Foscavir is usually taken for 2 to 3 weeks. Do not forget to follow your doctor's instructions. You may need to have your eye and kidney function tested regularly while using Foscavir. Foscavir should be stored at room temperature, away from extremes of temperature.
What happens if I miss the dose?
If you missed a dose, call your doctor to get instructions.
What happens if I overdose?
Call 1-800-222-1222 for poison help or seek immediate medical attention.
What should be avoided?
Foscavir can cause irritation or burning in the eyes. If you do get it in your eyes, rinse them with water and contact your doctor. This medicine can impair your reactions or thinking. You should be careful when driving or doing anything else that requires alertness.
Interaction with other drug
Foscavir may harm your kidneys. This effect can be increased if you use other medications, such as antivirals (including Tylenol and Advil), chemotherapy, injected bacteria, medicines for bowel disorders and organ transplant rejection prevention, injectionable osteoporosis medicine, and certain pain and arthritis medicines.
Inform your physician if you plan to start or stop using any new medicines, as well as any you currently take.
- Consider antibiotic or antifungal medicines like azithromycin, clarithromycin, erythromycin, fluconazole, levofloxacin moxifloxacin pentamidine telithromycin as antibiotic or antifungal treatments;
- Cancer medicine: arsenic dioxide, oxaliplatin, and vandetanib
- An antidepressant—citalopram, escitalopram;
- Anti-malaria medication: chloroquine, halofantrine;
- Heart rhythm medicine: amiodarone, disopyramide, dofetilide, dronedarone, flecainide, ibutilide, procainamide, quinidine, and sotalol;
- Medicine to treat a psychiatric disorder—chlorpromazine, droperidol, haloperidol, pimozide, and thioridazine.
This list is incomplete. Foscarnet may interact with other drugs, such as prescription and OTC medications, vitamins, and herbal products. This medication guide does not list all possible interactions.
