Drug reference

Foscarnet sodium

BNF 80 (2020–2021)

Source: BNF 80 (2020–2021)
PDF pages: 698

Review source pages for extracted sections and age labels. BNF dose snippets show only their first line.

Overview

Indications And Dose

Cytomegalovirus disease ▶BY INTRAVENOUS INFUSION ▶Adult: Initially 60 mg/kg every 8 hours for 2–3 weeks, alternatively initially 90 mg/kg every 12 hours for 2–3 weeks, then maintenance 60 mg/kg daily, then increased if tolerated to 90–120 mg/kg daily, if disease progresses on maintenance dose, repeat induction regimen Mucocutaneous herpes simplex virus infections unresponsive to aciclovir in immunocompromised patients ▶BY INTRAVENOUS INFUSION ▶Adult: 40 mg/kg every 8 hours for 2–3 weeks or until lesions heal l UNLICENSED USE Licensed for CMV retinitis in AIDS patients only. Foscarnet doses in BNF may differ from those in product literature.

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Cautions

Conditions where excess sodium should be avoided. ensure adequate hydration

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Safety

Interactions

→Appendix 1: foscarnet

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Side Effects

▶Common or very common Aggression. anaemia. anxiety. appetite decreased. arrhythmias. asthenia. chest pain. chills. confusion. constipation. coordination abnormal. dehydration. depression. diarrhoea. dizziness. electrolyte imbalance. fever. gastrointestinal discomfort. genital discomfort (due to high concentrations excreted in urine). genital ulceration (due to high concentrations excreted in urine). haemorrhage. headache. hepatic function abnormal. hypertension. hypotension. leucopenia. malaise. muscle contractions involuntary. myalgia. nausea (reduce infusion rate). neutropenia. numbness. oedema. palpitations. pancreatitis. paraesthesia (reduce infusion rate). peripheral neuropathy. proteinuria. renal impairment. seizure. sepsis. skin reactions. thrombocytopenia. thrombophlebitis. tremor. urinary disorders. vomiting ▶Uncommon Acidosis. angioedema. glomerulonephritis. nephropathy. pancytopenia ▶Frequency not known Anaphylactoid reaction. diabetes insipidus. muscle weakness. myopathy. oesophageal ulcer. QT interval prolongation. renal pain. renal tubular acidosis. severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs)

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Conception And Contraception

Men should avoid fathering a child during and for 6 months after treatment.

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Pregnancy

Manufacturer advises avoid.

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Breast Feeding

Avoid—present in milk in animal studies.

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Renal Impairment

Dose adjustments Reduce dose; consult product literature.

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Monitoring Requirements

▶Monitor electrolytes, particularly calcium and magnesium. ▶Monitor serum creatinine every second day during induction and every week during maintenance.

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Dose and formulations

Directions For Administration

Avoid rapid infusion. For intravenous infusion (Foscavir ®), give intermittently in Glucose 5% or Sodium Chloride 0.9%; dilute to a concentration of 12 mg/mL for infusion into peripheral vein (undiluted solution via central venous line only); infuse over at least 1 hour (infuse doses greater than 60 mg/kg over 2 hours).

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Medicinal Forms

There can be variation in the licensing of different medicines containing the same drug. Solution for infusion ELECTROLYTES: May contain Sodium ▶Foscavir (Clinigen Healthcare Ltd) Foscarnet sodium 24 mg per 1 ml Foscavir 6g/250ml solution for infusion bottles | 1 bottle P £119.85 (Hospital only)

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Dose text by age group

Adult

Initially 60 mg/kg every 8 hours for 2–3 weeks,

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

PDF page 698

Adult

40 mg/kg every 8 hours for 2–3 weeks or until

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

PDF page 698

Age labels are extracted for navigation. Check the complete source section and current local guidance before clinical use.

Drug reference

Foscarnet sodium

BNF 80 (2020–2021)

Source: BNF 80 (2020–2021)
PDF pages: 698

Review source pages for extracted sections and age labels. BNF dose snippets show only their first line.

Overview

Indications And Dose

PDF page 698

Cautions

Conditions where excess sodium should be avoided. ensure adequate hydration

PDF page 698

Safety

Interactions

→Appendix 1: foscarnet

PDF page 698

Side Effects

PDF page 698

Conception And Contraception

Men should avoid fathering a child during and for 6 months after treatment.

PDF page 698

Pregnancy

Manufacturer advises avoid.

PDF page 698

Breast Feeding

Avoid—present in milk in animal studies.

PDF page 698

Renal Impairment

Dose adjustments Reduce dose; consult product literature.

PDF page 698

Monitoring Requirements

▶Monitor electrolytes, particularly calcium and magnesium. ▶Monitor serum creatinine every second day during induction and every week during maintenance.

PDF page 698

Dose and formulations

Directions For Administration

PDF page 698

Medicinal Forms

PDF page 698

Dose text by age group

Adult

Initially 60 mg/kg every 8 hours for 2–3 weeks,

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

PDF page 698

Adult

40 mg/kg every 8 hours for 2–3 weeks or until

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

PDF page 698

Age labels are extracted for navigation. Check the complete source section and current local guidance before clinical use.