| FAMVIR®
(famciclovir) is an antiviral medication that may cause
faster healing of shingles lesions (almost 30% faster in a
clinical study compared with placebo).
For many people age 50 or older,
prescription oral FAMVIR may significantly shorten the
duration of PHN, reducing the number of days you have
pain. In one clinical study, people age 50 or older who
took FAMVIR experienced PHN for about 63 days compared
with 163 days for people who did not take FAMVIR. The
people who took FAMVIR started taking the medication
within 72 hours (3 days) after the shingles rash appeared.
FAMVIR is available in easy-to-swallow tablets.
In patients with shingles, the
recommended dose of FAMVIR is 500 mg, 3 times a day, for 7
days. If you have kidney problems, your doctor will
determine if FAMVIR is appropriate and if so, what the
right dose is for you. FAMVIR is a prescription oral
medication that is available in easy-to-swallow tablets.
How FAMVIR Works
When you take FAMVIR, it is absorbed
into your bloodstream, and then converted into another
drug called penciclovir. A virus attacks your body by
multiplying over and over again, making new viruses.
Penciclovir stops the varicella zoster virus (which causes
shingles) from multiplying.
Important Information
Prescription oral FAMVIR®
(famciclovir) is not for everyone. In clinical studies
with FAMVIR, the most common reported side effects
included headache, nausea, and diarrhea. Ask your doctor
if FAMVIR is right for you. If you have kidney problems,
your doctor will determine if FAMVIR is appropriate and if
so, what the right dose is for you.
FAMVIR should be started within 72 hours
(3 days) of the first sign of the shingles rash. Treatment
started more than 72 hours (3 days) after the rash has
appeared has not been studied.
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