Valcyte 450mg Tablet (Ganciclovir)

Recommended Dosage of Valcyte 450mg Tablets

You should take two tablets of Valcyte twice a day for 21 days, which equals three weeks. Remember not to continue this dosage for more than 21 days unless your doctor advises otherwise, as it could raise the chances of experiencing side effects.

Warnings and Precautions of Valcyte Tablets

Warnings

Do not take Valcyte if you are allergic to valganciclovir, ganciclovir, or any other ingredients in the medication, or if you are breastfeeding.
Speak with your doctor or pharmacist before starting Valcyte if you have allergies to aciclovir, penciclovir, valaciclovir, or famciclovir, which are other medications used for viral infections.

Precautions

You have low levels of white blood cells, red blood cells, or platelets in your blood. Your doctor will conduct blood tests before and during your Valcyte treatment.
You are undergoing radiotherapy or haemodialysis.
You have kidney problems. Your doctor might prescribe a lower dose and may need to monitor your blood frequently during treatment.
You are switching from ganciclovir capsules to Valcyte tablets. It’s crucial not to exceed the prescribed tablet count to avoid overdosing.

Possible Side of Valcyte Tablets

When taking Valcyte, you should be aware of potential side effects. While not everyone experiences them, it’s essential to recognize them. Here’s what to watch out for:

Allergic reactions:

In rare cases, about 1 in every 1,000 people, there may be a sudden and severe allergic reaction to valganciclovir, leading to anaphylactic shock. If you notice any of the following, stop taking Valcyte immediately and seek emergency medical help:
Raised, itchy skin rash (hives).
Sudden swelling of the throat, face, lips, or mouth, which can make swallowing or breathing difficult.
Sudden swelling of the hands, feet, or ankles.

Serious side effects:

If you experience any of the following serious side effects, inform your doctor right away. They may advise you to discontinue Valcyte and seek urgent medical attention:

Very common side effects (may affect more than 1 in 10 people):

Low white blood cell counts are indicated by signs of infection like sore throat, mouth ulcers, or fever.
Low red blood cell counts are characterized by feeling short of breath or tired, palpitations, or pale skin.

Common side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):

Blood infection (sepsis), recognized by fever, chills, palpitations, confusion, or slurred speech
Low platelet levels, leading to easy bleeding or bruising, blood in urine or stools, or bleeding from gums, which could be severe.
Severely low blood cell count.
Pancreatitis, identified by severe stomach pain spreading into the back.
Seizures (fits).

Uncommon side effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):

Failure of the bone marrow to produce blood cells.
Hallucinations, such as hearing or seeing things that aren’t real.
Abnormal thoughts or feelings, losing touch with reality.
Kidney function failure.

Can We Use Other Medicines with Valcyte 450mg Tablets?

Before taking Valcyte, it’s crucial to inform your doctor or pharmacist about any other medications you are currently taking, have recently taken, or might take, even those obtained without a prescription. Combining Valcyte with other medicines can affect how much of the drug enters your bloodstream or could lead to harmful effects. Make sure to tell your doctor if you are already using medications containing any of the following:

Imipenem-cilastatin (an antibiotic), as taking it with Valcyte can trigger convulsions (fits).
Drugs used to treat AIDS, such as zidovudine, didanosine, lamivudine, stavudine, tenofovir, abacavir, emtricitabine, or similar medications.
Medicines used to treat Hepatitis B, like adefovir, or any other medications for this condition.
Probenecid (a gout medication), as combining it with Valcyte may increase the amount of ganciclovir in your blood.
Medications used after transplantations, such as mycophenolate mofetil, ciclosporin, or tacrolimus.
Drugs used to treat cancer, like vincristine, vinblastine, doxorubicin, hydoxyurea, or similar medications.
Antibiotics like trimethoprim, trimethoprim/sulpha combinations, and dapsone.
Pentamidine (a drug for treating parasite or lung infections).
Anti-fungal agents like flucytosine or amphotericin B.

Can You Take Valcyte Tablet If You’re Pregnant?

It’s not recommended to use Valcyte (valganciclovir) tablets during pregnancy because of potential risks to the developing baby. Studies on animals have shown that valganciclovir, the active ingredient in Valcyte, can lead to birth defects, but it’s unclear if similar effects occur in humans. Here’s what you need to know:

Pregnancy should be avoided in women taking Valcyte or in female partners of male patients using Valcyte.
Women who could become pregnant should take a pregnancy test before starting Valcyte treatment and should use reliable contraception during treatment and for at least 30 days after stopping.
Men taking Valcyte should use barrier contraception (like condoms) during treatment and for at least 90 days after their last dose.
These precautions are important to minimize potential risks to you and your baby.