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Uses of Famvir

Famvir (famciclovir) is a prescription oral antiviral medication that is indicated for treatment of recurrent genital herpes, suppression of recurrent genital herpes, and treatment of recurrent herpes simplex virus infections (genital herpes and cold sores) in HIV-infected patients.

How to take Famvir

After the initial outbreak* of genital herpes, Famvir can be prescribed in one of three ways: 

Episodic treatment - your doctor treats an outbreak of genital herpes as it occurs. The usual dose of Famvir is one 125-mg pill, twice a day, for 5 days.† 

Suppressive treatment — if you have frequent or severe outbreaks, you take one 250-mg pill, twice a day, for up to 1 year†‡ to suppress the genital herpes virus and help to prevent outbreaks. 

Patients with HIV - Famvir is the only prescription oral antiviral therapy indicated for treating genital or orolabial herpes in people infected with HIV. In patients with herpes simplex and HIV, the dose of Famvir is 500 mg, twice a day, for 7 days.†  Famvir can be taken with or without food.

When discussing treatment options with your doctor, be sure to discuss your lifestyle, how you feel about outbreaks, the pain and severity of your symptoms, and the frequency of your outbreaks. Be sure to talk with your doctor about the type of treatment (episodic or suppressive) that would be most appropriate for you. 

For episodic and suppressive treatment, always take your medicine as prescribed by your doctor. If you are taking any other prescription or over-the-counter medications, please be sure to tell your doctor. No medication has been proven to prevent the transmission of genital herpes. It's important to know that Famvir will not prevent the spread of genital herpes to others. During an outbreak, you must avoid sexual contact, and use a condom in between outbreaks.

Famvir (famciclovir) is not for everyone. In clinical studies with Famvir, the most commonly 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. See the full Prescribing Information for more information about Famvir. 

Famvir should not be taken by patients with known hypersensitivity to the product, its components, and Denavir (penciclovir cream). 

Concurrent use of Famvir with probenecid or other drugs significantly eliminated by active renal tubular secretion may result in increased plasma concentrations of penciclovir.

Famvir has no clinically significant interactions with cimetidine, allopurinol, theophylline, digoxin, or zidovudine (AZT). 

The efficacy of Famvir has not been established for the treatment of an initial outbreak of genital herpes infection. 

† If you have impaired kidney function, your doctor will determine the appropriate dose for you. 

‡ The safety and efficacy of Famvir therapy beyond 1 year of treatment have not been established. 

No antiviral has been proven to prevent the transmission of genital herpes. 

There is no cure for genital herpes.