Penciclovir
Indications
Penciclovir is used for:
herpes simplex labialis
Adult Dose
Topical/Cutaneous
Recurrent herpes simplex labialis
Adult: As 1% cream: Appy 2 hrly during waking hr (approx 8 times daily) for 4 days. Initiate treatment at earliest sign or symptom.
Child Dose
Topical/Cutaneous
Recurrent herpes simplex labialis
Child: >12 yr
As 1% cream: Appy 2 hrly during waking hr (approx 8 times daily) for 4 days. Initiate treatment at earliest sign or symptom.
Renal Dose
Administration
Contra Indications
Hypersensitivity to penciclovir, famciclovir.
Precautions
Immunocompromised patients (e.g. AIDS patients, bone marrow transplant recipients). Not recommended for application to mucous membranes (e.g. eyes, mouth, nose, genitals). Pregnancy and lactation. Monitoring Parameters Monitor reduction in virus shedding, negative cultures for herpes virus; resolution of pain and healing of cold sore lesion.
Pregnancy-Lactation
Pregnancy
Drug is not absorbed systemically following topical administration and maternal use is not expected to result in fetal exposure to drug
Lactation
Drug is not absorbed systemically by the mother following topical administration and breastfeeding is not expected to result in exposure of child to drug
Interactions
Adverse Effects
Side effects of Penciclovir :
> 10%
Milde erythema
1-10%
Application site reaction (1%)
Headache (5%)
<1%
Hypesthesia/local anesthesia
Erythematous rash
Local edema
Oropharyngeal edema
Paresthesia
Parosmia
Skin discoloration
Pain
Urticaria
Taste perversion
Mechanism of Action
Penciclovir has in vitro and in vivo inhibitory activity against various Herpesviridae, including herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2), varicella zoster virus (VZV), and EpsteinBarr virus (EBV). In cells infected w/ HSV-1 or HSV-2, viral thymidine kinase phosphorylates penciclovir to a monophosphate form which, in turn, is converted to penciclovir triphosphate by cellular kinases. Penciclovir triphosphate inhibits HSV polymerase competitively w/ deoxyguanosine triphosphate. Consequently, herpes viral DNA synthesis and, therefore, replication are selectively inhibited.