Ganciclovir (Systemic)
Brand Names : Cytovene, Cytovene-IV, DHPG
Before Receiving This MedicineIn deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be
weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor
will make. For ganciclovir, the following should be considered:
Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or
allergic reaction to acyclovir or ganciclovir. Also tell your health care
professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives,
or dyes.
Pregnancy - Use of ganciclovir during pregnancy should be avoided
whenever possible since ganciclovir has caused cancer and birth defects in
animal studies. The use of birth control is recommended during ganciclovir
therapy. Men should use a condom while receiving ganciclovir, and for at least
90 days following treatment. Also, animal studies have shown that ganciclovir
causes a decrease in fertility.
Breast-feeding - Breast-feeding should be stopped during treatment
with this medicine because ganciclovir may cause serious unwanted effects
in nursing babies.
Children - Ganciclovir can cause serious side effects in any
patient. Therefore, it is especially important that you discuss with the child's
doctor the good that this medicine may do as well as the risks of using it.
Older adults - Many medicines have not been studied specifically
in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly
the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects
or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use
of ganciclovir in the elderly with use in other age groups.
Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used
together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together
even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to
change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking
ganciclovir, it is especially important that your health care professional
know if you are taking any of the following:
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Amphotericin B by injection (e.g., Fungizone) or
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Antineoplastics (cancer medicine) or
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Antithyroid agents (medicine for overactive thyroid) or
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Azathioprine (e.g., Imuran) or
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Chloramphenicol (e.g., Chloromycetin) or
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Colchicine or
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Cyclophosphamide (e.g., Cytoxan) or
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Flucytosine (e.g., Ancobon) or
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Interferon (e.g., Intron A, Roferon-A) or
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Mercaptopurine (e.g., Purinethol) or
-
Zidovudine (e.g., AZT, Retrovir) - Caution should be used if
these medicines and ganciclovir are used together; receiving ganciclovir while
you are using these medicines may make anemia and other blood problems worse
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Carmustine (e.g., BiCNU) or
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Cisplatin (e.g., Platinol) or
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Combination pain medicine containing acetaminophen and aspirin (e.g.,
Excedrin) or other salicylates (with large amounts taken regularly) or
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Cyclosporine (e.g., Sandimmune) or
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Deferoxamine (e.g., Desferal) (with long-term use) or
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Gold salts (medicine for arthritis) or
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Inflammation or pain medicine, except narcotics, or
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Lithium (e.g., Lithane) or
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Other anti-infectives (e.g., amphotericin B) or
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Penicillamine (e.g., Cupramine) or
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Streptozocin (e.g., Zanosar) or
-
Tiopronin (e.g., Thiola) - Use of these medicines may increase
the chance of side effects affecting the kidneys
-
Methotrexate (e.g., Mexate) or
-
Plicamycin (e.g., Mithracin) - These medicines may increase the
chance of side effects affecting the blood and the kidneys
Other medical problems - The presence of other medical
problems may affect the use of ganciclovir. Make sure you tell your doctor
if you have any other medical problems, especially:
-
Kidney disease - Ganciclovir may build up in the blood in patients
with kidney disease, increasing the chance of side effects
-
Low platelet count or
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Low white blood cell count - Ganciclovir may make these blood
diseases worse
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