Description
Foscarnet Sodium Uses:
Foscarnet Sodium is an antiviral agent that helps prevent the multiplication of certain viruses in your body.
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Retinitis: It is used to treat cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis in people whose immune systems are weakened by AIDS.
- Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV): It is also used to treat herpes simplex virus (HSV) in people with a weak immune system. Foscarnet is usually given for HSV after other antiviral drugs have been tried without successful treatment.
Dosage:
The recommended dosage, frequency, or infusion rates must not be exceeded. All the doses of Foscarnet must be individualized for patients’ renal function.
Induction Therapy: The recommended initial dose of foscarnet injection for patients with normal renal function is:
- For patients with CMV retinitis, either 90 mg/kg (1.5 to 2 hour infusion) every 12 hours or 60 mg per kg (minimum 1-hour infusion) every 8 hours over 2-3 weeks on behalf of clinical response.
- For patients with acyclovir-resistant HSV, 40 mg per kg (minimum 1-hour infusion) either every 8 or 12 hours for 2-3 weeks or until healed.
Use an infusion pump to control the rate of infusion. Adequate hydration is required to establish a diuresis, both prior to and throughout therapy to scale down renal toxicity.
Maintenance Therapy: Following induction therapy, the recommended maintenance dose of foscarnet sodium for CMV retinitis is 90 to 120 mg/kg/day (individualized for renal function) and administered as an intravenous infusion over two hours. Because the superiority of the 120 mg/kg daily has not been evaluated in trials and given the likely relationship of increased plasma Scarnet- foscarnet levels to toxicity, it is recommended that the majority of patients be initiated on maintenance therapy with a dose of 90 mg/kg daily. Escalation to 120 mg/kg daily may be considered should early reinduction be needed because of retinitis progression. A limited group of patients who demonstrate good tolerance to foscarnet may benefit from the initiation of maintenance therapy at 120 mg/kg daily earlier in their treatment.
Use an infusion pump to control the rate of infusion with all doses. Again, hydration to establish diuresis both prior to and throughout therapy is recommended to scale down the renal toxicity.
Those who experience progression of retinitis while on foscarnet sodium maintenance therapy may be retreated with the induction regimen and maintenance regimen given above or along with foscarnet sodium injection and ganciclovir. Due to the physical incompatibility, foscarnet sodium injection and ganciclovir must not be mixed.
Side Effects:
The most commonly reported Foscarnet Sodium side effects to include:
- chest pain
- headache
- back pain
- vomiting
- nausea
- diarrhea
- fever
- flu-like symptoms
Warnings and Precautions:
- Foscarnet sodium 24mg/ml should be used with proper caution in those with abnormal renal function because reduced plasma clearance of foscarnet will be responsible for elevated plasma levels.
- Use of foscarnet 24mg/ml in 250 ml by the rapid intravenous infusion is not recommended. Avoid receiving this medicinal product in case you are hypersensitive to it or any of its other existing ingredients.
- Foscarnet could affect your being able to use some tools or machines or drive. Discuss with your health specialist prior to getting involved in any kind of such activity.
- It is absolutely mandatory to drink plenty of fluid along with foscarnet infusion. This may help you prevent kidney complications. If you require fluid, the health specialist will suggest it to you at about the common time as the Foscarnet.
- The quantity of Foscarnet injection which you are recommended typically depends on how well your kidneys are working/functioning. Quantity also depends on the weight of the patients.
- Foscarnet injection (Foscavir) should be avoided during pregnancy. Do not conceive a baby during the treatment with Foscarnet. The use of effective contraception ways is highly recommended.
- Male patients treated with the Foscarnet injection shouldn’t father a child while or up to 6 months after the last dose. Do not take this drug in case you are breastfeeding.
