"Famvir": instructions for use, reviews. Drug analogues

In the autumn-spring period, there is a high probability of a decrease in immunity, as a result of which a person can easily become infected with any viral infection. In addition, in winter, there are exacerbations of all kinds of chronic diseases, which include human herpes in all its manifestations.

For many decades, the so-called "cold on the lips" was treated with external means. But in recent years, thanks to the discoveries in the field of virology, it was found that fighting with herpes rashes is much more effective with oral medications, that is, orally. Among the many medicines from human herpes , the "Famvir" drug proved to be a very good candidate. To understand what are its main advantages and disadvantages over other similar medicines, it is worth considering all the information about it, which we will now do.

Composition of the preparation, description

Tablets from herpes "Famvir" are an antiviral agent, the main active ingredient of which is famciclovir. They also include substances such as sodium starch glycolate and anhydrous lactose, hydroxypropyl cellulose and magnesium stearate. Each tablet is coated with a soluble coating consisting of 4000 and 6000 polyethylene glycols, hypromellose and titanium dioxide.

The Famvir tablets are rounded with no labels labeled "Famvir" on one side and numbers corresponding to the dosage on the other. They are placed in blisters of 3 or 10 pieces. One package of medicinal product contains 1-4 blisters with tablets and instructions for use.

In addition to the tablet form, the pharmaceutical industry produces other types of preparations under this name. In pharmacy chains, you can meet the external remedy "Famvir". Ointment, which also includes famciclovir, can be used together with tablets to more effectively combat the manifestations of human herpes. The expediency of their joint use is determined by a specialist.

Pharmacological properties of the drug Famvir

As stated above, the antiviral effect of the drug is due to the presence in it of the compound famciclovir. "Famvir", due to its composition, is active against such pathogens as Herpes simplex and Varicella zoster, cytomegalovirus and the Epstein-Barr virus. How does this substance act on their cells? After absorption into the body through the digestive tract, famciclovir is converted into penciclovir, which can penetrate into the tissues affected by viruses.

After passing through the cell membranes penciclovir breaks down into simpler compounds - monophosphates, which within a few hours are converted to triphosphates. It is these substances that, for a long time, are inside the viral cells that prevent the replication of their DNA, that is, they do not allow the viruses to divide. It should be noted that penciclovir is effective even if the body is affected by such resistant types of viruses as Herpes simplex with mutated DNA polymerase.

The drug Famvir, whose analogs in most cases do not have such a high level of effectiveness, differs from other drugs in that its bioavailability is very high and amounts to about 77%. The therapeutic effect can be observed after less than an hour after the application of the agent inside. The highest concentration of famciclovir in plasma is observed after 45 minutes after the tablet has been drained. The drug is excreted mainly through the kidneys, the half-life of the active substances from the plasma is no more than three hours.

Indications for use

"Famvir" is recommended for use in diseases caused by viral infections. These include chicken pox, ophthalmoherpes and shingles. The drug is effective both in primary infection and in exacerbations of chronic diseases. In addition, the drug is justified for recurring infections caused by the human herpes virus and such pathogens as Herpes simplex and Varicella zoster. In addition to the above, the "Famvir" medication instruction recommends the use to eliminate postherpetic neuralgia, which often develops in patients undergoing shingles.

The drug is appointed by the attending physician, who can correctly assess the patient's condition and take into account all the risks associated with the use of a particular medication.

Contraindications

Like all medicines, Famvir, reviews of patients and doctors about which will be described further, has a number of contraindications. First of all, tablets should not be taken to people who have been intolerant of the components they contain: penciclovir, lactose, etc. In addition, the drug is forbidden to give to children suffering from viral infectious diseases. The drug "Famvir" can not be used to treat herpes in pregnant and lactating women. All these instructions should be taken with special attention, as if the recommendations are not observed, patients may develop complications that require long and difficult treatment.

Side effects and overdose

The medicine "Famvir" rarely causes undesirable reactions of the body when applied. The patient may experience symptoms such as mild headache or nausea during taking the drug. From the side of the digestive tract, vomiting may occur. Among the side effects from the drug "Famvir" instruction on use mentions and changes from the side of the central nervous system, which consist in drowsiness, dizziness, confusion and hallucinations. Possible manifestation of allergic reactions in the form of hives, hyperemia and itching of the skin. With all the symptoms listed above, symptomatic treatment helps cope. In especially severe cases, patients undergo hemodialysis.

If the recommended dosages are exceeded, the side effects and undesirable effects are more intense and pronounced. In addition, patients with chronic kidney disease can develop renal failure in acute form.

Method of drug administration and dosage

When appointing the drug "Famvir" dosage for each patient is calculated individually. This takes into account not only the severity of the disease, but also the natural immunity of a person, as well as many other factors. The first thing you should pay attention to is the method of taking the tablets, which the instruction advises to use orally, squeezed with a lot of liquid. To chew the "Famvir" tablets the instruction (the doctors' reviews also contain such information) does not recommend, since this can affect the absorption of the active substance.

The course of treatment with this drug is 7 days, and the dosage depends, as mentioned above, on several conditions:

1. When a disease caused by the virus Varicella zoster against a normal (not lowered) immunological reaction of the body, the drug is prescribed in a dosage of 250 mg 3 times a day. With a double dose of the drug during the day, the dosage is 500 mg per reception, and for a single dose 750 mg. For patients with reduced immunity, the dosage is 500 mg 3 times a day, and treatment lasts no less than 10 days.
2. In diseases caused by the Herpes simplex virus against a background of reduced immunity, the dosage of the drug is 500 mg twice a day. Under normal immunity, the instruction recommends taking the drug 3 times a day for 250 mg.
3. With a neuralgic syndrome of postherpetic origin, Famvir is administered at a dosage of 250-500 mg 3 times a day.
4. Ophthalmoherpes is treated with the "Famvir" drug at a dosage of 1500 mg per day. This amount should be divided into 3 receptions during the day.
5. Recurrent chronic viral infections caused by any type of herpes are treated for 5 days. The drug is taken twice a day during the day in an amount of 250 mg per each dose. For the treatment of chronic non-herpetic infections, the dosage leaves 125 mg for admission 2 times a day.
6. With herpes zoster, the dose of the drug usually does not exceed 250 mg per day.
7. Genital recurrent herpes requires long and prolonged treatment. The Famvir tablets are generally recommended for 6-12 months, 250 mg twice daily.
8. To HIV-infected patients, the dosage of the drug is calculated based on their condition at the time of prescribing. As a rule, the daily dose for them consists of a triple intake of 500 mg of the drug during the day.

Do not try to calculate the dosage necessary in your case! Before applying the "Famvir" medication it is necessary to consult a doctor.

special instructions

The instructions for use accompanying each package of "Famvir" also contain a number of special instructions. When using a drug to treat viral infections in elderly patients older than 65 years, the recommended dosage adjustment depending on the state of the urinary system and kidneys in particular. Special precautions in the form of monitoring the patient's health will help in time to detect violations in the functioning of organs and prevent the development of acute renal failure.

Since the use of "Famvir" for the treatment of viral infections in children has not been adequately studied, it is recommended that the drug be used only if the health benefits of the child exceed the potential risk of developing serious side effects or other undesirable consequences.

During the treatment of genital herpes with "Famvir", experts advise to refrain from sexual intercourse or use barrier contraceptives during therapeutic activities. This is due to the fact that re-infection is possible both during treatment and after its termination. In any case, an examination for infection should be done by the patient's partner. When the diagnosis is confirmed, the treatment with Famvir tablets can be shown to him. This will avoid re-infection.

Since the composition of tablets includes lactose and galactose, their use by patients with hereditary intolerance of these compounds is not always safe. In this case, it is necessary to choose analogues of the drug in which these substances are absent.

Particular attention to the use of the drug "Famvir" in the form of tablets should be given to those who are forced to spend a long time behind the wheel. In the presence of side effects from the central nervous system in the form of dizziness and drowsiness, one should refrain from managing transport until the end of treatment.

Information on the compatibility of the drug "Famvir" with other medicines is not available. However, specialists in the appointment of this drug take into account the way of excretion of other drugs from the body. The fact is that with a heavy load on the kidneys, with which the excretion of most metabolic species takes place, dosage adjustments are required. Due to this, it is possible to avoid the development of acute renal failure and other disorders in the work of urinary organs.

Reviews about the drug "Famvir"

What are the main advantages of the drug Famvir? Reviews of doctors about him in most cases do not carry negative information. In comparison with other drugs of this class, the antiviral agent has the least amount of side and unwanted reactions from different organs and systems. In addition, its use to a certain extent accelerates the treatment of herpes in any of its manifestations. As doctors notice, the systemic effect on the body is always more effective than the local action of the drugs. Doctors also note that the use of "Famvir" to treat patients with reduced immunity shows good results. To do this, it is enough to adjust the dosage.

Reviews of the drug "Famvir" from patients are also positive. Unlike external means, it does not cause local reactions in the form of sensation of dryness or constriction. One of the merits of the drug, according to consumers, is the relatively low cost and versatility of the drug. It can be used both for "cold" on the lips, and for other types of herpes, including shingles.

Analogues of the drug Famvir

To date, the pharmaceutical market is saturated with drugs with antiviral activity, similar in effect to the drug Famvir. Analogues of the drug are divided into two groups:

1. The content of the main active substance (famciclovir).
2. On the rendered therapeutic effect.

To the first group can be attributed only three funds: actually the drug itself "Famvir", "Minaker" and "Famciclovir." The difference between these drugs is not only in the name of the manufacturer, but also in the amount of active ingredient in each pill and, as a consequence, in the cost of the drugs. Tablets "Famvir" against the background of analogues from this group differ sufficiently high content of famciclovir. The cost of the drug can not be called low (about 800 rubles for 10 tablets of 125 mg), while "Minaker" is almost twice as expensive.

The second group includes a large list of antiviral drugs that have activity against the human herpes virus. Among them, such medicines as "Amiksin", "Acyclovir", "Valtrex", "Kagotsel", "Zovirax", "Ergoferon" and many others. In comparison with the "Famvir" tablets they act only on a simple herpes virus. If we recall a fairly wide range of viruses, in relation to which the active substance of the drug, which was discussed in this article, its advantages over analogues from this group become more and more obvious.

The cost of drugs, similar to the therapeutic effect of tablets Famvir, is different. Some funds cost no more than 150 rubles per package, and the price of some reaches 1500-2000 rubles.

What is better to take: the drug "Famvir" or "Valtrex" and other analogues?

To finally understand whether to replace the drug "Famivir" more affordable in terms of the cost of analogs, consider one of them in more detail. As an example, you can take the drug "Valtrex", the instructions to which it is stated that it helps to cope with the human herpes virus.

The main active substance of this drug is valaciclovir, which is active against Herpes labialis, Herpes simplex and Herpes zoster. It is indicated that the compound is ineffective in a number of cases, for example, with mutations of the DNA polymerase of the virus. In addition, the preparation "Valtrex" is not used in the complex therapy of HIV-infected patients.

For a more complete picture, it is worth considering the side effects of this drug. In addition to those phenomena that may occur during the reception of Famvir tablets, this drug has such undesirable consequences of reception as convulsions, dyspnea, photosensitivity (light intolerance), leukopenia and much more. But this does not mean that the risk of these undesirable consequences is higher than that of the "Famvir" preparation.

So, let's summarize. When trying to answer a question from the category: "Famvir" or "Valtrex"? First of all, pay attention not to the cost of the drug, but to what kind of virus it is active. Secondly, do not try to decide for yourself what to replace the medication prescribed by the doctor, since in any case you will have to take into account many aspects, from the state of your body at the moment and ending with the diseases transferred in childhood. Therefore, decide what is best: "Valtrex" or "Famvir", you need not yourself, but with the help of a specialist who knows everything about your health.