Introduction
Foviral is used to treat HIV infection and chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in combination with other anti-HIV medicines. It prevents the multiplication of virus in human cells. This stops the virus from producing new viruses and clears up your infection.
Foviral is not a cure for HIV/AIDS and only helps to decrease the amount of HIV in your body. This helps to lower your risk of getting HIV-related complications and improves your lifespan. It may also be used to prevent HIV infection in some people at high risk. This medicine is best taken with food. It is used in combination with other anti-HIV medicines. Taking these medicines regularly at the right time greatly increases their effectiveness and reduces the chances of HIV becoming resistant to them. It is important not to miss doses and to keep taking them until your doctor tells you it is safe to stop.
Common side effects of this medicine include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, flatulence, trouble sleeping, headache, and rash. These are usually not serious but inform your doctor if they bother you or will not go away. It can also increase the risk of bone loss (osteoporosis) if you take it for a long time. Exercise regularly and take calcium and vitamin D supplements as suggested by your doctor. Some people may put on weight while taking medicines to treat HIV/AIDS.
Before taking it, tell your doctor if you have any liver or kidney disease or bone problems. While taking it, you may need regular blood tests to check your blood counts, liver function, and kidney function. Since this medicine may cause dizziness or sleepiness, do not drive until you know how it affects you. Pregnant or breastfeeding mothers should consult their doctor before using this medicine. Do not have unprotected sex or share personal items like razors or toothbrushes, if you are HIV positive. Talk to your doctor about safe ways like condoms to prevent HIV transmission during sex.
Uses of Foviral
- HIV infection
- Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection
Side effects of Foviral
Common
- Rash
- Weakness
- Nausea
- Stomach pain
- Diarrhea
How to use Foviral
Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Foviral is to be taken with food.
How Foviral works
Foviral is an antiviral medication. It prevents the multiplication of virus in human cells. This stops the virus from producing new viruses and clears up your infection.
What if you forget to take Foviral?
If you miss a dose of Foviral, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular schedule. Do not double the dose.
Indication
HIV-1 infection, Chronic hepatitis B
Administration
May be taken with or without food. Take consistently either always w/ or always w/o food.
Adult Dose
Oral
Chronic hepatitis B; HIV infection (Indicated in combination with other antiretroviral agents for treatment of HIV-1 infection)
Adult: 300 mg once daily.
Child Dose
HIV Infection
<2 years: Safety and efficacy not established
>2 years: 8 mg/kg PO qDay; not to exceed 300 mg/day
Hepatitis B Infection
<12 years: Safety and efficacy not established
>12 years; <35 kg: Safety and efficacy not established
>12 years; >35 kg: 300 mg PO qDay
Renal Dose
Renal impairment: Haemodialysis patients: 300 mg once every 7 days or after a cumulative total of 12 hr of dialysis.
CrCl (ml/min) Dosage Recommendation
10-29 300 mg 72-96 hrly.
30-49 300 mg 48 hrly.
Contraindication
Tenofovir is contraindicated in patients with previously demonstrated hypersensitivity to Tenofovir or any component of the product.
Mode of Action
Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, a diester prodrug of tenofovir, is a nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor. After oral absorption, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate is rapidly converted to tenofovir and then undergo subsequent phosphorylation by cellular enzymes to the active tenofovir diphosphate, which inhibits the activity of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase.
Precaution
Patient w/ hepatomegaly or other risk factors for liver disease. Renal impairment. Pregnancy. Patient Counselling This drug may cause dizziness, if affected, do not drive or operate machinery. Monitoring Parameters Monitor renal function and serum phosphate concentrations before start of therapy, 4 wkly during the 1st wk, and then 3 mthly; hepatic function for several mth following discontinuation. Determine HIV status in all hepatitis B virus (HBV) infected patients prior to treatment.
Lactation: HIV+ women are advised not to breastfeed
Side Effect
>10%
Asthenia (11%),Diarrhea (16%),Nausea (11%),Pain (12%)
1-10%
Anorexia,Depression,Myalgia,Peripheral neuropathy,Dyspepsia,Rash,Headache,Vomiting,Flatulence,Abdominal pain,Neutropenia,Increased transaminases
Interaction
Decreased atazanavir concentration with tenofovir unless also co-administered with ritonavir. Increased serum concentration of tenofovir or co-administered drug if taken with drugs that are eliminated by active tubular secretion.
Potentially Fatal: Increased risk of renal impairment with recent or concurrent use of nephrotoxic agents (e.g. aminoglycosides, amphotericin B, foscarnet, ganciclovir, pentamidine, vancomycin, cidofovir or interleukin-2); monitor renal function wkly if unavoidable. Increased didanosine levels and thereby increasing risk of pancreatitis and peripheral neuropathy, with a high treatment failure rate with concurrent use; avoid concurrent use.