Active ingredient
- foscarnet trisodium hexahydrate
Legal Category
POM: Prescription only medicine
POM: Prescription only medicine
The Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) is the leaflet included in the pack with a medicine. It is written for patients and gives information about taking or using a medicine. It is possible that the leaflet in your medicine pack may differ from this version because it may have been updated since your medicine was packaged.
Below is a text only representation of the Patient Information Leaflet. The original leaflet can be viewed using the link above.
The text only version may be available in large print, Braille or audio CD. For further information call emc accessibility on 0800 198 5000. The product code(s) for this leaflet is: PL31644/0001.
Foscavir 24 mg/ml Solution for Infusion
Package leaflet: Information for the user
Foscavir® 24 mg/ml Solution for Infusion
foscarnet
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start having this medicine because it contains important information for you.
What is in this leaflet
1. What Foscavir is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you have Foscavir
3. How to have Foscavir
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Foscavir
6. Contents of the pack and other information
1. What Foscavir is and what it is used for
Foscavir contains a medicine called foscarnet. This belongs to a group of medicines called anti-virals. It works by stopping viruses from multiplying in number.
Foscavir is used to treat the following infections that are caused by viruses:
2. What you need to know before you have Foscavir
Do not have Foscavir:
If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or nurse before having Foscavir.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or nurse before you have Foscavir.
Check with your doctor or nurse before having Foscavir if:
If you are not sure if this applies to you, talk to your doctor or nurse before having Foscavir.
Other medicines and Foscavir
Tell your doctor or nurse if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. This includes medicines that you buy without a prescription and herbal medicines. This is because Foscavir can affect the way some medicines work and some medicines can have an effect on Foscavir.
In particular, tell your doctor or nurse if you are already having any of the following medicines:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
Driving and using machines
Foscavir may affect you being able to drive or use tools or machines. Talk to your doctor before you do any of these activities.
Tests before and during your treatment with Foscavir
Your doctor may do blood and urine tests before and during your treatment with Foscavir. This is to check how well your kidneys are working and the level of minerals in your blood.
Foscavir contains sodium
The maximum recommended daily dose of this medicinal product contains 2.75 g sodium (found in table salt). This is equivalent to 138% of the adult recommended maximum daily dietary intake for sodium.
Talk to your pharmacist or doctor if you need Foscavir on a daily basis for a prolonged period of time, especially if you have been advised to follow a low salt diet.
3. How to have Foscavir
Having Foscavir for CMV retinitis
If you are having Foscavir for CMV retinitis, there will be two stages to your treatment. The first stage is called induction therapy and the second stage is called maintenance therapy.
Induction therapy
Maintenance therapy
Your doctor will tell you if you need to have more or less Foscavir and how often you should have it. This is so that you have the dose that is right for you.
Sometimes your doctor may ask you to have a medicine called ganciclovir as well. This is to make sure that you have the treatment that is right for you.
Having Foscavir for Herpes Simplex Virus
Personal hygiene
Wash your genitals carefully after passing water (urine). This will help to prevent any sores from developing.
If you get Foscavir solution on your skin or in your eyes
If you get Foscavir solution on your skin or in your eyes by mistake, rinse your skin or your eyes straight away with water.
If you think you have been given too much Foscavir
If you think you have been given too much Foscavir, talk to your doctor straight away.
If you forget to have Foscavir
If you think you have missed a dose, talk to your doctor straight away.
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Some side effects can be serious and need immediate medical attention:
If you get any of the above, tell your doctor straight away or go to the nearest emergency unit.
Other side effects include:
Very common (affects more than 1 in 10 people)
Common (affects less than 1 in 10 people)
Uncommon (affects less than 1 in 100 people)
The following side effects have also been reported (frequency not known)
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme. Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. How to store Foscavir
6. Contents of the pack and other information
What Foscavir contains
What Foscavir looks like and contents of the pack
Foscavir is a sterile solution for infusion. The solution is clear and colourless. Foscavir comes in bottles containing 250 ml.
Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer
The Marketing Authorisation for Foscavir is held by
Foscavir is manufactured by
To listen to or request a copy of this leaflet in Braille, large print or audio please call, free of charge:
0800 198 5000 (UK only)
Please be ready to give the following information:
Product name Foscavir
Reference number 31644/0001
This is a service provided by the Royal National Institute of Blind People.
This leaflet was last revised in November 2020.
© Clinigen Healthcare Ltd.
Foscavir is a trademark of Clinigen Healthcare Ltd.
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