Induction and maintenance treatment of CMV retinitis in AIDS patients Treatment (unlicensed indication) and prophylaxis of CMV disease in transplant patients
DOSE IN NORMAL RENAL FUNCTION
Induction/treatment: 900 mg twice daily for 21 days Maintenance/prophylaxis: 900 mg daily
HD                     : Dialysed. See ‘Other Information’
HDF/high flux   : Dialysed. See ‘Other Information’
CAV/VVHD      : Likely dialysability. Dose as in GFR=10–24 mL/min
IMPORTANT DRUG INTERACTIONS
Potentially hazardous interactions with other drugs
Antibacterials: increased risk of convulsions with imipenem-cilastatin
Antivirals: possibly increased didanosine concentration; profound myelosuppression with zidovudine – avoid if possible Mycophenolate: possibly increased concentrations of both mycophenolic acid and ganciclovir Increased risk of myelosuppression with other myelosuppressive drugs
ADMINISTRATION
Reconstition
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Route
Oral
Rate of Administration
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Comments
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OTHER INFORMATION
900 mg valganciclovir twice daily is therapeutically equivalent to 5 mg/kg intravenous ganciclovir twice daily Valganciclovir is a prodrug of ganciclovir Take with food if possible Manufacturer advises to avoid in severe renal impairment due to increased risk of bone marrow suppression Doses of 450 mg once or twice a week have been used to treat CMV disease in patients with GFR <10 mL/min on dialysis Approximately 50% of ganciclovir is removed by haemodialysis .