Famvir, also known as Famciclovir, is classified as an antiviral medication. It is used to treat cold sores, the painful condition called shingles and genital herpes. The drug comes in 125 mg, 250 mg and 500 mg film-coated tablets.
How It Works
Famvir works to treat the above conditions by preventing the herpes viruses that are responsible for them from creating new DNA. This results in lower virus levels in a patient’s blood.
Benefits of Famvir
- Treats shingles
- Treats genital herpes
- Treats cold sores
- Prevents recurring herpes skin infections in patients with HIV
- Can prevent recurrences of the above conditions
Taking Famvir
You should always take Famvir tablets whole without crushing them. You can take them with or without food. The dosage will vary, depending on the condition you are treating. For example, if you suffer from shingles, you will normally be prescribed 500 mg of Famvir three times daily for one week.
To treat genital herpes, you are normally prescribed 125 mg of the drug twice daily for 5 days. You may need to take 250 mg of Famvir twice daily for up to one year in order to prevent recurrences of the condition you are treating.
Possible Side Effects
The most common side effects reported when taking Famvir are headaches. However, you may also experience dizziness, vomiting, diarrhea, unusual weakness or tiredness or nausea. If you find any of the symptoms particularly troublesome, you should talk to your doctor.
