Patient leaflet - Famvir 125 mg film-coated tablets
1. What Famvir is and what it is used for
Famvir is an antiviral medicine. It stops the infecting virus from reproducing. Since the virus reproduces very early in the infection, you will benefit most from treatment if you take Famvir as soon as the first symptoms appear.
Famvir is used to treat two types of viral infections in adults:
- Shingles (herpes zoster), which is a viral infection caused by a virus called varicella zoster (the same virus that causes chickenpox). Famvir stops the virus from spreading in the body so that healing can occur faster.
- Famvir is also used for the treatment of shingles in the area around the eye or of the eye itself (ophthalmic zoster).
- Genital herpes. Genital herpes is a viral infection caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 or 2. It is normally spread by sexual contact. It causes blisters and burning or itching around the genitals, which may be painful. Famvir is used to treat genital herpes infections in adults. People who have frequent episodes of genital herpes can also take Famvir to help to prevent the attacks.
2. What you need to know before you take Famvir
Do not take Famvir
- If you are allergic to famciclovir, to any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6), or to penciclovir (the active metabolite of famciclovir and an ingredient of some other medicines).
Ask your doctor for advice, if you think you may be allergic.
Warnings and precautions Talk to your doctor before taking Famvir
- If you have kidney problems (or have had them before). Your doctor may decide to give you a lower dose of Famvir.
- If you have problems with your body’s immune system.
- If you have liver problems.
If any of these applies to you, tell your doctor before you take Famvir.
Children and adolescents (below the age of 18 years)
Famvir is not recommended for use in children and adolescents.
Prevent passing genital herpes to others
If you are taking Famvir to treat or to suppress genital herpes, or you have had genital herpes in the past, you should still practise safe sex, including the use of condoms. This is important to prevent you passing the infection on to others. You should not have sex if you have genital sores or blisters.
Other medicines and Famvir
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.
It is especially important that you tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of the following medicines:
- Raloxifen (used to prevent and treat osteoporosis).
- Probenecid (used to treat high blood levels of uric acid associated with gout and to increase blood levels of penicillin-type antibiotics), or any other medicine that can affect your kidneys.
Famvir with food and drink You can take Famvir with or without food.
Pregnancy, breast-feeding and fertility If you are pregnant or breast feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor for advice before taking this medicine. Famvir is not to be used during pregnancy unless clearly necessary. Your doctor will discuss with you the potential risks of taking Famvir during pregnancy.
Famvir is not to be used during breast-feeding unless clearly necessary. Your doctor will discuss with you the possible risks of taking Famvir during breast-feeding.
Driving and using machines
Famvir can cause dizziness, drowsiness or confusion.
Do not drive or use machines if you have any of these symptoms while taking Famvir.
Famvir contains lactose
If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, e.g. lactose, contact your doctor before taking this medicine (Famvir 125 mg and 250 mg tablets only).
3. How to take Famvir
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
- The daily dose and length of treatment will depend on the type of viral infection you have – see below. Your doctor will prescribe the correct dose for you.
- For the best results start the medicine as soon as possible after the first signs and symptoms appear.
- Do not have sexual contact with anyone if you have symptoms of genital herpes – even if you have started treatment with Famvir. This is because you could pass the herpes infection to your partner.
- If you have or have had kidney problems, your doctor may decide to give you a lower dose of Famvir.
Dose for shingles
If you have a normal immune system, the recommended dose is 500 mg three times a day, for seven days.
If you have a reduced immune system, the recommended dose is 500 mg three times a day, for ten days.
Dose for genital herpes
The dose depends on the state of your immune system, and the stage of your infection.
If you have a normal immune system, the doses are as follows:
For the first outbreak, the recommended dose is 250 mg three times a day, for five days.
To treat further outbreaks, the recommended dose is 125 mg twice a day, for five days.
To prevent future outbreaks, the recommended dose is 250 mg twice a day.
Your doctor will tell you how long you need to continue taking your tablets.
If you have a reduced immune system, the doses are as follows:
To treat the current outbreak, the recommended dose is 500 mg twice a day, for seven days.
To prevent future outbreaks, the dose is 500 mg twice a day.
Your doctor will tell you how long you need to continue taking your tablets.
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If you take more Famvir than you should
If you have taken more tablets than you have been told to take, or if someone else accidentally takes your medicine, go to your doctor or hospital for advice immediately. Show them your pack of tablets.
Taking too much Famvir may affect the kidneys. In people who already have kidney problems it may, rarely, lead to kidney failure if their dose is not correctly lowered.
If you forget to take Famvir
If you forget to take a dose of Famvir, you should take it as soon as you remember. Then take your next dose as scheduled. However, do not take two doses within a time interval of less than 1 hour, in that case you should skip the missed dose. Furthermore, do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Serious side effects of Famvir are:
Most of these side effects are rare or uncommon (they affect between 1 to 100 in every 10,000 patients)
- Severe blistering of the skin or mucous membranes of the lips, eyes, mouth, nasal passages or genitals (these could be signs of a serious allergic skin reaction).
- Unexplained bruising, reddish or purplish patches on the skin or nosebleeds (these could be signs of a decrease in the number of blood platelets).
- Swelling below the surface of the skin (e.g. facial swelling, swelling around eye, eyelid swelling, throat swelling).
Yellowing of the skin and/or eyes (signs of jaundice).
The frequency of the following side effects is not known (cannot be estimated from the available data):
- Purple skin patches, itching, burning (signs of inflamed blood vessels).
- Seizures or fits.
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing. Rash, itching, hives, wheezing or coughing, light-headedness, dizziness, changes in levels of consciousness. Hypotension, with or without generalised itching, skin reddening, facial/throat swelling, blue discoloration of the lips, tongue or skin (signs of severe allergic reaction).
Contact a doctor or go to the emergency department at your nearest hospital straight away if you get any of these effects.
Very common side effects (these side effects affect more than 1 in 10 people)
- Headache
Common side effects (these side effects affect up to 1 in 10 people)
- Feeling sick (nausea)
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhoea
- Dizziness
- Rash
- Itching
- Liver function test giving abnormal results
Uncommon side effects (these side effects affect up to 1 in 100 people)
- Confusion
- Drowsiness (usually in the elderly)
- Itchy rash (urticaria)
Rare side effects (these side effects affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)
- Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not really there)
- Palpitations (signs of abnormal heart beat)
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist 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 at: 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 Famvir
- Keep out of the sight and reach of children.
- Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the label and blister after ‘EXP’. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
- Do not store above 25°C.
- Store in the original packaging to protect from moisture.
- If your medicine shows any signs of deterioration or discolouration, consult your pharmacist for advice. If damaged, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
- Do not use this medicine if you notice the pack is damaged or shows signs of tampering.
- Medicines should not be disposed of via waste water or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help to protect the environment.
6. Contents of the pack and other information
What Famvir contains
The active substance is famciclovir. Each film-coated tablet contains 125 mg of famciclovir.
The other ingredients are lactose anhydrous, sodium starch glycolate (Type A), hydroxypropyl cellulose and magnesium stearate. The tablet coating consists of hypromellose, titanium dioxide (E171), macrogol 4000 and macrogol 6000.
What Famvir looks like and contents of the pack
White, round, film-coated, biconvex, bevelled edges, debossed with “FV” on one side and “125” on the reverse side. Each pack contains 10 tablets.
FAMVIR is a registered trademark.
Manufactured by: Cosmo S.p.A., Via Cristoforo Colombo, 1, 20020 Lainate, (Milan), Italy or Cosmo S.p.A., Via Cristoforo Colombo, 1, 20045 Lainate, (Milan), Italy. Procured from within the EU. Product Licence Holder: Quadrant Pharmaceuticals Limited, Lynstock House, Lynstock Way, Lostock, Bolton, BL6 4SA. Repackaged by: Maxearn Limited, Unit 29, Oakhill Trading Estate, Devonshire Road, Worsley, Manchester, M28 3PT. PL 20774/2522 – FAMVIR 125 mg film-coated tablets
This leaflet was revised on 18th June 2024
Blind or partially sighted?
Is this leaflet hard to see or read? Contact Quadrant Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Tel 01204 471 269
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