Famvir

Maker:
Novartis

What it does:
Treats recurrent episodes of orolabial herpes (cold sores) or genital herpes

Traditional dosage:
500 mg in tablets twice daily for seven days; tablets come in 125, 250, or 500 mg strengths

Drug interactions, precautions, & recommendations:
Dosage may need to be reduced for patients with kidney impairment. The drugs Benemid and Probalan, used to treat gout, may increase the level of Famvir in the patient’s body, so this level should be monitored.

Side effects:
Most serious: acute kidney failure Other: headache, nausea, skin or subcutaneous tissue disorders, heart palpitations