Foscarnet

Administration

  • Type: Antiviral
  • Dosage Forms:
  • Routes of Administration: IV
  • Common Trade Names: Foscavir

Adult Dosing

  • CMV retinitis: 90 mg/kg IV q12h OR 60 mg/kg IV q8h for 2-3 weeks, then maintenance 90-120 mg/kg IV daily
  • HSV resistant to acyclovir, immunocompromised: 40 mg/kg IV 2-3 times daily
  • VZV resistant to acyclovir, HIV+: 90 mg/kg IV q12h

Pediatric Dosing

Special Populations

  • Pregnancy Rating: C
  • Lactation risk: Infant risk cannot be ruled out
  • Renal dosing: Complicated dose adjustment required!
  • Hepatic dosing: No adjustement

Contraindications

  • Allergy to class/drug

Adverse Reactions

Serious

  • Hyperphosphatemia, hypophosphatemia, hypocalcemia, hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia
  • Pancreatitis
  • Pancytopenia
  • Renal failure, renal impairment
  • Seizure

Common

  • Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
  • Anemia, granulocytopenic disorder
  • Headache
  • Fever

Pharmacology

  • Half-life: 3.3-4h
  • Metabolism:
  • Excretion: Renal

Mechanism of Action

  • inhibits pyrophosphate binding on viral DNA polymerases

Comments

See Also

References