What Valcyte is and what it is used for
Valcyte belongs to a group of medicines, which work directly to prevent the growth of viruses. In the body the active ingredient in the powder, valganciclovir, is changed into ganciclovir. Ganciclovir prevents a virus called cytomegalovirus (CMV) from multiplying and invading healthy cells. In patients with a weakened immune system, CMV can cause an infection in the body’s organs. This can be life threatening.
Valcyte is used:
- for treatment of CMV-infections of the retina of the eye in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). CMV-infection of the retina of the eye can cause vision problems and even blindness.
- to prevent CMV-infections in patients who are not infected with CMV and who have received an organ transplant from somebody who was infected by CMV.
Before you take Valcyte
Do not take Valcyte
- if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to valganciclovir or any of the other ingredients of Valcyte
- if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to ganciclovir, acyclovir or valaciclovir, which are medicines used to treat other virus infections.
- if you are breastfeeding.
Take special care with Valcyte
- if you have low numbers of white blood cells, red blood cells or platelets (small cells involved
- in blood clotting) in your blood. Your doctor will carry out blood tests before you start taking
Valcyte and more tests will be done while you are taking the medication.
- if you are having radiotherapy.
- if you have a problem with your kidneys. Your doctor may need to prescribe a reduced dose for you and may need to check your blood frequently during treatment.
Children and adolescents should not take Valcyte, as no studies have been done to see how this medicine works in children.
- Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.
If you take other medicines at the same time as taking Valcyte the combination could affect the amount of drug that gets into your blood stream or could cause harmful effects. Tell your doctor if you are already taking medicines that contain any of the following:
- imipenem-cilastatin (an antibiotic). Taking this with Valcyte can cause convulsions (fits)
- zalcitabine, zidovudine, didanosine, or similar kinds of drugs used to treat AIDS. Your doctor may reduce the dose of didanosine
- probenecid (a medicine against gout). Taking probenecid and Valcyte at the same time could increase the amount of ganciclovir in your blood. Your doctor may prescribe a lower dose of Valcyte.
- mycophenolate mofetil (used after transplantations) drugs used to treat cancer.
- other drugs used against viral infections trimethoprim (an antibiotic)
Taking Valcyte with food and drink
Valcyte should be taken with food. If you are unable to eat for any reason, you should still take your dose of Valcyte as usual.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
You should not take Valcyte if you are pregnant unless your doctor recommends it. If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant you must tell your doctor. Taking Valcyte when you are pregnant could harm your unborn baby.
You must not take Valcyte if you are breastfeeding. If your doctor wants you to begin treatment with Valcyte you must stop breastfeeding before you start taking your medication.
Women of childbearing age
Women of childbearing age must use effective contraception when taking Valcyte.
Men
Men whose partners could become pregnant should use condoms while taking Valcyte and should continue to use condoms for 90 days after treatment has finished.
Driving and using machines
Do not drive or use any tools or machines if you feel dizzy, tired, shaky or confused while taking this medicine.
Important information about some of the ingredients of Valcyte
For patients on a sodium-controlled diet, this medicinal product contains a total of 0.188 mg/ml sodium.
How to take Valcyte
Always take Valcyte exactly as your doctor has told you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
You have to be careful when handling the Valcyte solution. You should avoid getting the solution on your skin or in your eyes. If you accidentally get the solution on your skin, wash the area thoroughly with soap and water. If you accidentally get any solution in your eyes, rinse your eyes thoroughly with water.
You must stick to the daily dose of the oral solution as instructed by your doctor to avoid overdose.
Valcyte oral solution should, whenever possible, be taken with food – see section 2.
It is important that you use the dispenser provided in the pack to measure your dose of Valcyte solution. Two dispensers are provided in case one of them gets lost or damaged. Each dispenser is designed to measure up to a 500 mg amount of solution in 25 mg increments.
Always wash the dispenser thoroughly and allow it to dry after you have taken your dose.
Contact your doctor or pharmacist if both dispensers are lost or damaged, and they will advise you on how to continue to take your medication.
Adults:
Prevention of CMV disease in transplant patients
You should start to take this medicine within 10 days of your transplant. The usual dose is 900 mg Valcyte solution taken ONCE daily. Use the dispenser provided to take two 450 mg amounts (i.e. 2 dispensers filled to 450 mg graduation) of solution. You should continue with this dose for up to 100 days. If you have received a kidney transplant, your doctor may advise you to take the dose for 200 days.
Treatment of active CMV retinitis in AIDS patients (called induction treatment)
The usual dose is 900 mg of Valcyte solution taken TWICE a day for 21 days (three weeks). Use the dispenser provided and take two 450 mg amounts (i.e. 2 dispensers filled to 450 mg graduation) of the solution in the morning and two 450 mg amounts (i.e. 2 dispensers filled to 450 mg graduation) in the evening.
Do not take this dose for more than 21 days unless your doctor tells you to, as this may increase your risk of possible side effects.
Longer term treatment to prevent recurrence of active inflammation in AIDS patients with CMV retinitis (called maintenance treatment)
The usual dose is 900 mg Valcyte solution taken ONCE daily. Use the dispenser provided and take two 450 mg amounts of solution (i.e. 2 dispensers filled to 450 mg graduation). You should try to take the solution at the same time each day. Your doctor will advise you how long you should continue to take Valcyte. If your retinitis worsens while you are on this dose, your doctor may tell you to repeat the induction treatment (as above) or may decide to give you a different medicine to treat the CMV infection.
Patients with kidney problems
If your kidneys are not working properly, your doctor may instruct you to take a lower dose of
Valcyte solution each day. It is very important that you follow the dose prescribed by your doctor.
Use the dispenser provided in the pack to measure the dose of Valcyte solution.
Method and route of administration
It is recommended that the Valcyte solution be prepared by the pharmacist prior to it being provided to you.
Once the solution has been prepared, follow the instructions below to withdraw and take the your medication.
- Shake closed bottle well for about 5 seconds before each use.
- Remove the child-resistant cap.
- Before inserting the tip of the dispenser into bottle adapter, push the plunger completely down toward the tip of the dispenser. Insert tip firmly into opening of the bottle adapter.
- Turn the entire unit (bottle and dispenser) upside down.
- Pull the plunger out slowly until the desired amount of solution is withdrawn into the dispenser (see diagram).
- Turn the entire unit right side up and remove the dispenser slowly from the bottle.
- Dispense directly into mouth and swallow. Do not mix with any liquid prior to dispensing.
- Close bottle with child-resistant cap after each use.
- Immediately after administration:
Disassemble the dispenser, rinse under running tap water and air dry prior to next use.
Care should be taken to avoid contact of the skin with the solution. If such contact occurs, wash thoroughly with soap and water.
Do not use the solution after the expiry date which is 49 days from the day of preparation.
If you take more Valcyte than you should
Contact your doctor or hospital immediately if you have taken, or think that you have taken, more Valcyte solution than you should. Taking more than the recommended dose can cause serious side effects, particularly affecting your blood or kidneys. You may need hospital treatment.
If you forget to take Valcyte
If you forget to take your dose of Valcyte take the missed dose as soon as you remember and take the next dose at the usual time. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed dose.
If you stop taking Valcyte
You must not stop taking your medicine unless your doctor tells you to.
If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Possible side effects
Like all medicines, Valcyte can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Allergic reactions
Up to 1 in every 100 people may have a sudden and severe allergic reaction to valganciclovir (anaphylactic shock). STOP taking Valcyte and go to the accident and emergency department at your nearest hospital if you experience any of the following:
- a raised, itchy skin rash (hives)
- sudden swelling of the throat, face, lips and mouth which may cause difficulty swallowing or
- breathing
- sudden swelling of the hands, feet or ankles
The side effects that have occurred during treatment with valganciclovir or ganciclovir are given below.
Very common means that the effect may occur in more than 1 in every 10 patients.
Common means that the effect may occur in 1 to 10 users in 100.
Uncommon means that the effect may occur in 1 to 10 users in 1000.
Very rare means that the effect may occur in less than 1 user in 10,000.
Very common side effects (may affect more than 1 in 10 users):
Effects on the blood: a reduction in the number of white blood cells in the blood (neutropenia) – which will make you more likely to get infections, a reduction in the pigment in the blood that carries oxygen (anaemia) – which can cause tiredness and breathlessness when you exercise
Effects on breathing: feeling short of breath or having trouble breathing (dyspnoea)
Effects on the stomach and digestive system: diarrhoea Common side effects (may affect 1 to 10 users in 100):
Effects on the blood: a reduction in the number of leucocytes (blood cells that fight infection) in the blood (leucopenia), a reduction in the number of platelets in the blood (thrombocytopenia) -which can cause bruising and bleeding, a reduction in the number of several types of blood cells at the same time (pancytopenia)
Effects on the nervous system: headache, difficulty sleeping (insomnia), strange tastes (dysgeusia), becoming less sensitive to touch (hypoaesthesia), prickly or tingling skin (paraesthesia), loss of feeling in the hands or feet (peripheral neurophathy), dizziness, fits (convulsions)
Effects in the eye: eye pain, swelling within the eye (oedema), separation of the back of the eye (detached retina), seeing floaters
Effects in the ear: earache
Effects on breathing: coughing
Effects on the stomach and digestion: feeling and being sick, stomachache, constipation, wind, indigestion (dyspepsia), difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
Effects on the skin: inflamed skin (dermatitis), itching (pruritis), sweating at night
Effects on the muscles, joints or bones: back pain, pain in the muscles (myalgia) or joints (arthralgia), stiff muscles (rigor), muscle cramps
Infections: fungal infection in the mouth (oral candidiasis), infections caused by bacteria or viruses in the blood, inflammation of cellular tissue (cellulitis), inflammation or infection of the kidneys or bladder
Effects in the liver: a rise in some liver enzymes, which will only be seen during blood tests
Effects in the kidney: changes to the normal working of the kidneys
Effects on eating: loss of appetite (anorexia), weight loss
General effects: tiredness, fever, pain, chest pain, loss of energy (asthenia), generally feeling unwell (malaise)
Effects on mood or behaviour: depression, feeling anxious, confused, having unusual thoughts Uncommon side effects (may affect 1 to 10 users in 1000):
Effects in the heart: changes to the normal heart beat (arrhythmia)
Effects on circulation: low blood pressure (hypotension), which can cause you to feel light headed or faint
Effects on the blood: a decrease in the production of blood cells in the bone marrow
Effects in the nerves: shaking or trembling (tremor)
Effects in the eyes: red, swollen eyes (conjunctivitis), abnormal vision
Effects in the ears: deafness
Effects on the stomach or digestion: swollen stomach, mouth ulcers, inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) where you may notice severe pain in the stomach and back
Effects on the skin: hair loss (alopecia), itchy rash or swellings (urticaria), dry skin
Effects in the kidneys: blood in the urine (haematuria), kidney failure
Effects in the liver: a rise in the liver enzyme called alanine aminotransferase (which will only be seen during blood tests)
Effects on fertility: infertility in men
Effects on mood or behaviour: having unusual changes in mood and behaviour, losing contact with reality such as hearing voices or seeing things that are not there, feeling agitated
Very rare side effects (may affect less than 1 user in 10,000):
Effects on the blood: failure of the production of all types of blood cells (red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets) in the bone marrow
If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, tell your doctor or pharmacist.
How to store Valcyte
Keep out of the reach and sight of children.
Powder: does not require any special storage condition.
Do not use the powder after the expiry date given on the carton and bottle label (EXP).
Reconstituted solution: Store in a refrigerator (2°C – 8°C).
The shelf-life of the oral solution is 49 days. Do not use the solution 49 days after preparation or after the expiry date which will be written on the bottle by the pharmacist.
Do not use Valcyte if you notice any signs of deterioration.
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.
Further information
What Valcyte contains
The active substance is valganciclovir hydrochloride. Following dissolution of the powder, 1 ml solution contains 55 mg valganciclovir hydrochloride corresponding to 50 mg valganciclovir as hydrochloride.
The other ingredients are: povidone, fumaric acid, sodium benzoate (E211), sodium saccharin and mannitol, tutti-frutti flavour [maltodextrins (maize), propylene glycol, arabic gum E414 and natural identical flavouring substances mainly consisting of banana, pineapple and peach flavour].
What Valcyte looks like and contents of the pack
Valcyte powder is a granulate with a white to slightly yellow colour. A quantity of 12 g powder is supplied in a glass bottle. Upon reconstitution, the volume of the solution is 100 ml, providing a usable volume of 88 ml. The solution is clear and colourless to brown. The pack also contains a bottle adapter and 2 dispensers that are graduated to 500 mg with 25 mg graduations.
The following information is intended for medical or healthcare professionals only: It is recommended that the Valcyte solution be prepared by a pharmacist as follows:
- Measure 91 ml of water in a graduated cylinder.
- Remove the child resistant cap, add the water to the bottle, close the bottle with the child resistant cap and shake the closed bottle until the powder is dissolved.
- Remove the child resistant cap and push the bottle adapter into the neck of the bottle.
- Close the bottle with child resistant cap tightly to assure the proper seating of the bottle adapter in the bottle and child resistant status of the cap.
- Write the date of expiration of the solution on the bottle label.
Avoid inhalation or direct contact of skin or mucous membranes with the powder and direct contact with the solution. If contact occurs, wash thoroughly with soap water; rinse eyes with plain water.