Wednesday, June 12, 2013

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Cidofovir IV Uses and How to Use


IMPORTANT NOTE: The following information is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist or other healthcare professional. It should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate or effective for you. Consult your healthcare professional before using this drug.

Table of Contents

Generic Name: CIDOFOVIR - INJECTION
Pronounced: (sye-DOH-foh-veer)

Cidofovir IV Uses

This drug is used with probenecid to treat a certain viral eye infection (retinitis due to cytomegalovirus-CMV) in people with AIDS. It lowers your risk of blindness and other vision problems. Cidofovir belongs to a class of drugs known as antivirals. It works by stopping the growth of the virus.

Cidofovir is not a cure for CMV retinitis, and your disease may still worsen during and after treatment.

How To Use Cidofovir IV

This medication is given into a vein by a health care professional, usually over 1 hour. It is usually given every 1 to 2 weeks or as directed by your doctor.

Dosage is based on your medical condition, body weight, and response to treatment. You will usually receive IV fluids before your dose of cidofovir. Your doctor will also direct you to take probenecid by mouth before and after you receive cidofovir. To prevent kidney problems, drink plenty of fluids unless otherwise directed by your doctor. This is especially important if you are vomiting or having diarrhea.

It is very important to use the probenecid with this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Nausea and vomiting due to probenecid may be prevented by taking it after meals. Your doctor may also prescribe another medication to prevent nausea, and may direct you to take antihistamines (e.g., diphenhydramine) and/or acetaminophen to prevent allergic reactions to probenecid.

This medication works best when it is used regularly. Keep all your medical appointments. You may want to mark a calendar to help you remember.

Do not use more or less of this drug than prescribed or stop using it (or your HIV medicines) even for a short time unless directed to do so by your doctor. Doing so may cause the amount of virus to increase, make the infection more difficult to treat (resistant), or worsen side effects.

Avoid direct contact of this medicine with the skin/eyes/mouth. If contact occurs, wash thoroughly with soap and water. For eyes, rinse with a steady stream of tap water for at least 5 minutes.


CONDITIONS OF USE: The information in this database is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or adverse effects, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for you or anyone else. A healthcare professional should be consulted before taking any drug, changing any diet or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment.
Information last revised October 2010 Copyright(c) 2010 First DataBank, Inc.