Indication: The Foscarnet is introduced as an antiviral drug. It is intended to treat infections caused by cytomegalovirus (CMV) (ie: retinitis). Foscarnet is also aimed to prevent a relapse of CMV following the initial treatment of this infection. Patients should have their eyes checked regularly. Occasionally, this medication can be used to treat severe herpes simplex viral (HSV) infections in patients who have not responded to, or who've developed severe adverse events to the antiviral agent acyclovir.
Administration: Foscarnet is administered intravenously (I.V.) as a slow infusion over one to two hours. The dose can be given once to three times daily on behalf of your needs and on behalf of the reason it is prescribed (treatment versus prevention). The apt dose will be calculated on behalf of your weight and may require to be adjusted if you have kidney problems. Foscarnet sodium hexahydrate may be administered for two to four weeks or indefinitely. Usually, your health specialist will prescribe an infusion of normal saline that is to be received intravenously prior to each dose of foscarnet. Your normal saline infusion will be given over one to two hours. Overall, it will take two to four hours to receive each dose.
Possible Side Effects: Most serious problem with the medication foscarnet is that it can have a hazardous effect on the kidneys. So certain blood tests measuring kidney function (eg. creatinine) will be done on a regular basis to assess how well your kidneys are working while on therapy. It is crucial to drink as much fluid as you can. Also, the intravenous normal saline will be helpful in protecting your kidneys. Please inform your health specialist if you urinate less than usual.
The most common foscavir side effects are nausea, fatigue, vomiting, headache and diarrhea. These signs/symptoms usually last for only the initial few days of therapy. In case they persist and are bothersome, report your health specialist.
Convulsions, tremor, muscle twitching, and dizziness sometimes appears and disappears once the therapy is stopped. Contact your health specialist if you observe these signs and symptoms.
Anemia, leukopenia, or thrombocytopenia may occur. Blood tests will be done on a regular basis to assess for any changes in these values. Inform your healthcare professional if you observe any symptoms of shortness of breath, fever, chills, rapid/irregular heartbeat, fatigue, bleeding/bruising. Penile, vaginal and mouth ulcers, though not common, may appear. Adequate hydration
as well as good hygiene can prevent or minimize these complications.
The foscavir injection may be responsible for causing other changes in the blood work, the most important being a fall in calcium. Your health specialist will also assess for increases in phosphate and for decreases in phosphate, potassium and magnesium. Call your doctor if you observe the following signs/symptoms that are caused by decreased calcium levels: tingling around the mouth, numbness in the hands/feet, tingling, or prickling feeling. Your blood work will be assessed and you will be notified if it is required to take a calcium or certain other type of supplement.
Irritation (redness) or pain may occur at the site of injection (eg. forearm) when foscarnet is administered into a small vein. This problem can be prevented by further diluting the drug or administering it more slowly. This problem can also be eliminated by infusing medicine into a larger vein.
Rarely, an allergic reaction to this medication may develop. Please consult a health specialist immediately in case you develop a skin rash.
It is necessary that you keep your healthcare professional appointments and come for your laboratory tests so that your progress can be followed.
Precautions:
- Prior to the beginning of foscarnet, inform your health specialist if you are allergic to it or if you have kidney/blood disorders. Also, notify your health specialist if you have had convulsions or a reduced calcium blood level in the past.
- As this medication can cause some dizziness, you should make sure you know how you react to this medicine prior to driving, using machinery or doing anything else that can be dangerous if you are dizzy.
- When given with foscarnet injection, many medicines may increase the risk of developing adverse events. Inform your health specialist if you are taking the following drugs: aminoglycoside antibiotics (gentamicin, tobramycin, amikacin, etc), amphotericin B (Fungizone, Abelcet, Ambisome), cidofovir (Vistide), intravenous pentamidine (Pentacarinat).
- In case while handling the medicine, it accidentally spills, avoid contact with your skin/eyes/mucous membranes. Wear rubber gloves while cleaning up any spills. If foscavir comes in contact with the skin or mucous membranes, wash the area thoroughly with soap and water, and rinse thoroughly with water.
- The safety profile of foscarnet during pregnancy or breastfeeding has not been established. Please consult your health specialist if this is a concern.
Storage: In case you are to receive foscavir injection at home, the diluted intravenous solution should be kept at room temperature (15°C to 30°C). It is advised that the solution should be used within 24 hours of dilution. It should be kept well out of the reach of children. Check your foscarnet/foscavir bag or bottle in order to ensure that there are no leaks and no solid particles in the solution. The solution should be clear as well as colorless. If not, you should avoid using the bag or bottle.
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