penciclovir (Denavir)

Indications: - Herpes labialis Dosage: topical agent: apply cream every 2 hours while awake for 4 days 2 gram tubes, 10 mg/g. Pharmacokinetics: 1) 1/2life of penciclovir is 2-3 hours 2) > 90% of penciclovir is eliminated unchanged in the urine Laboratory: - penciclovir in blood - penciclovir in serum/plasma Mechanism of action: 1) famciclovir (Famvir) is rapidly deacylated & oxidized to penciclovir, which provides antiviral activity 2) penciclovir is converted intracellularly by viral thymidine kinase to penciclovir triphosphate 3) penciclovir triphosphate inhibits viral DNA synthesis

Properties

MISC-INFO: elimination route KIDNEY pregnancy-category B safety in lactation ?

References

Drug Information & Medication Formulary, Veterans Affairs, Central California Health Care System, 1st ed., Ravnan et al eds, 1998 - not on National VA formulary