Valcyte Tablets

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NOTICE: This Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) is intended for persons living in Australia.

Tablets

Pronounced VAL-SITE

contains the active ingredient valganciclovir

Consumer Medicine Information

What is in this leaflet

This leaflet answers some common questions about VALCYTE tablets.

It does not contain all the available information.

It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.

All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking VALCYTE against the benefits they expect it will have for you.

If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Keep this leaflet with the medicine.

You may need to read it again.

What VALCYTE is used for

VALCYTE contains the active ingredient valganciclovir. In the body valganciclovir rapidly changes to ganciclovir.

VALCYTE belongs to a group of medicines used to prevent the growth of viruses.

VALCYTE acts against a virus called cytomegalovirus or CMV (a type of herpes virus). It prevents this virus from growing and multiplying in the body. CMV causes infections, mainly in people with poor immunity. Poor immunity can be caused by HIV/AIDS or by medications taken after an organ transplant.

VALCYTE is used to treat CMV eye infections (known as CMV retinitis) in AIDS patients, which, if left untreated can cause blindness. It is not a cure for CMV eye infections.

VALCYTE is not effective against any underlying HIV infection.

VALCYTE is also used to prevent CMV infection in patients following organ transplantation.

Your doctor, however, may have prescribed VALCYTE for another purpose.

Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why VALCYTE has been prescribed for you.

VALCYTE is not addictive.

This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.

Before you take VALCYTE

Animal and other laboratory studies have shown VALCYTE causes infertility, birth defects and cancer. It is possible that these effects may also occur in humans.

When you must not take it

Do not take VALCYTE if

you have had an allergic reaction to VALCYTE, ganciclovir, valaciclovir or aciclovir or any ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet

Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include:

shortness of breath

wheezing or difficulty breathing

swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body

rash, itching or hives on the skin

Do not take VALCYTE if you have very low blood counts for platelets (which help clotting), neutrophils (a type of white blood cell which defends against infection) or low haemoglobin (oxygen carrying substance in the blood)

Do not take VALCYTE after the expiry date (EXP) printed on the pack has passed or if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.

If it has expired or is damaged, return it to your pharmacist for disposal.

If you are not sure whether you should start taking VALCYTE, talk to your doctor.

Use in children

There is limited information on the safety and effectiveness of the use of VALCYTE in children. Your doctor will advise you whether VALCYTE is suitable for your child.

Before you start to take it

Tell your doctor if

you are allergic to any other medicines, foods, dyes or preservatives, especially any medicine which you have taken previously to treat your current condition

you have any other health problems, especially the following:

you have a history of low blood counts for platelets (thrombocytopenia), neutrophils (neutropenia) or anaemia

you have, or previously have had, poor kidney function

you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant

VALCYTE is not recommended for use during pregnancy. VALCYTE may affect your developing baby if you take it during pregnancy. Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of using VALCYTE if you are pregnant.

you are breast-feeding or intend to breast-feed

It is not known whether VALCYTE passes into breast milk. Breast-feeding is not recommended during therapy with VALCYTE

you are a woman who could become pregnant and you are not using contraception

you must use a reliable form of contraception during VALCYTE therapy, and for at least 30 days after stopping VALCYTE, unless you are not sexually active.

you are a sexually active man

you should use condoms during and for at least 90 days following treatment with VALCYTE unless it is certain that your female partner is not at risk of pregnancy.

If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell him/her before you start taking VALCYTE.

Taking other medicines

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you get without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.

Some medicines and VALCYTE may interfere with each other.. These medicines include:

imipenem/cilastatin (Primaxin^®), a combination of medicines used to treat some infections

probenecid (e.g. Benemid^®), a medicine used to treat gout

zidovudine (AZT, Retrovir^®, Combivir^®),didanosine (ddI or Videx^®), stavudine, also known as D4T, other medicines used to treat HIV infection

medicines for the treatment of cancer such as vincristine, adriamycin, hydroxyurea

mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept^®), and other medicines used to prevent organ rejection after a transplant e.g. ciclosporin, tacrolimus.

anti-infective agents such as trimethroprim / sulphonamides, dapsone, pentamidine, flucytosine, pegylated interferons plus ribavirin and amphotericin B

These medicines may be affected by VALCYTE, or may affect how well it works. You may need to use different amounts of your medicine, or you may need to take different medicines. Your doctor or pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking VALCYTE.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about this list of medicines.

How to take VALCYTE

Follow all directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist carefully.

They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet..

If you do not understand the instructions on the box/bottle, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.

How much to take

Take VALCYTE exactly as your doctor has prescribed.

Your doctor will tell you how many VALCYTE tablets to take each day.

Treatment of CMV Retinitis in AIDS for adults

Induction Treatment for adults (for active CMV retinitis)

The usual dose is 900 mg (two 450 mg tablets) twice daily with food for 21 days

Maintenance Treatment for adults (after induction treatment or for inactive CMV retinitis)

The usual dose is 900 mg (two 450 mg tablets) once daily with food.

Prevention of CMV Disease in Transplantation for adults

The usual dose is 900 mg (two 450 mg tablets) once daily with food, starting within 10 days post transplantation until 100 days post transplantation.

If you have received a kidney transplant, the same daily dose is required until 200 days post transplantation.

Your dose may have to be reduced or stopped if you have or develop low blood counts, have kidney disease, or if you are older than 65 years.

Prevention of CMV Disease in Transplantation for children

Your doctor will let you know how many VALCYTE tablets you should give your child each day.

How to take it

Swallow tablets whole with a glass of water. VALCYTE must be taken with food.

When to take it

Take VALCYTE during or immediately after a meal.

If you take VALCYTE on an empty stomach, it may not work as well.

Take VALCYTE at about the same time each day.

Taking your medicine at the same time each day will have the best effect. It will also help you remember when to take VALCYTE.

How long to take it

Continue taking VALCYTE until your doctor tells you to stop.

If you forget to take it

If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to.

Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember and then go back to taking it as you would normally.

Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose you missed.

If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

If you have trouble remembering your dose, ask your pharmacist for some hints.

If you take too much (overdose)

Immediately telephone your doctor, or the Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26), or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital, if you think you or anyone else may have taken too much VALCYTE. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.

You may need urgent medical attention.

Keep telephone numbers for these places handy.

If you are not sure what to do, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

While you are using VALCYTE

Things you must do

Tell any other doctors, dentists and pharmacists who treat you that you are taking VALCYTE.

See your doctor regularly so that your CMV disease, blood cell counts and any other potential side effects may be monitored carefully.

If blood cell counts are low then this may reduce your ability to fight infection, or for your blood to clot efficiently. If left undetected these effects on blood cells may contribute to death or serious illness.

If you have a CMV eye infection, you must also see your doctor regularly to monitor the condition of your retina (part of the eye).

If you become pregnant while taking VALCYTE, tell your doctor immediately.

Condoms should be used by sexually active men while taking VALCYTE and for 90 days after stopping treatment.

Women who are of childbearing potential should use contraception during and for at least 30 days after stopping VALCYTE.

Tell your doctor if for any reason you have not taken your medicine exactly as prescribed. Otherwise, your doctor may think that it was not effective and change your treatment unnecessarily.

Keep all of your doctor’s appointments so that your progress can be checked.

Things you must not do

Do not take VALCYTE to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.

Do not give VALCYTE to anyone else even if they have the same condition as you.

Do not stop taking VALCYTE or change the dosage without first checking with your doctor.

Do not let yourself run out of medicine over the weekend or on holidays.

Do not take any other medicines whether they require a prescription or not without first telling your doctor or consulting a pharmacist.

Be careful when handling VALCYTE tablets. Do not break or crush them. If you accidentally touch broken or crushed tablets, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. If any powder from the tablet gets in your eyes, rinse your eyes thoroughly with water.

Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how VALCYTE affects you.

VALCYTE may cause drowsiness, dizziness, confusion or seizures (fits) in some people and therefore may affect alertness. If you have any of these symptoms, do not drive, operate machinery or do anything else that could be dangerous.

Side effects

Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking VALCYTE.

VALCYTE helps most people with CMV infections but it may have unwanted side effects in a few people.

All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. Your doctor has weighed the risks of using this medicine against the benefits they expect it will have for you.

If you are over 65 years of age you may have an increased chance of getting side effects.

Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects.

You may not experience any of them.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.

Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following and they worry you:

dizziness

looking pale

diarrhoea

nausea

fever

vomiting

headache

These are more common side effects of VALCYTE and are usually short-lived.

Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:

skin rash

abdominal pain

cough

fatigue (tiredness)

oral thrush (sore, creamy yellow raised patches in the mouth)

insomnia (inability to sleep)

worsening of your eyesight

These side effects may be serious. You may require medical attention.

Tell your doctor immediately, or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital, if you notice any of the following:

swelling of the tongue, lips or throat

any sign of infection such as fever, chills, sore throat or mouth ulcers

unexplained bruising or bleeding

thinking, hearing or seeing things that are not real

confusion

agitation

fits

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell, even if it is not on this list.

This is not a complete list of all possible side effects.. Others may occur in some people

Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you don't understand anything in this list.

After using VALCYTE

Storage

Keep your tablets in the bottle until it is time to take them.

If you take the tablets out of the bottle they may not keep well.

Keep VALCYTE in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 30°C.

Do not store it, or any other medicine, in a bathroom or near a sink. Do not leave it in the car or on window sills.

Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.

Keep VALCYTE where children cannot reach it.

A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.

Disposal

If your doctor tells you to stop taking VALCYTE, or the tablets have passed their expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any tablets that are left over.