Formulary
Foscarnet sodium: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Foscarnet sodium clinical drug profile including indications, dosing, side effects, cautions and interactions.
MedNext Academy | 3 min read
Foscarnet sodium: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Foscarnet sodium clinical drug profile including indications, dosing, side effects, cautions and interactions.
Indications and dose
**Cytomegalovirus disease**
- **Adult** (By Intravenous Infusion): 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**
- **Adult** (By Intravenous Infusion): 40 mg/kg every 8 hours for 2-3 weeks or until lesions heal.
**Cytomegalovirus disease for foscarnet sodium**
- **Child (under expert supervision)** (By intravenous infusion): Initially 60 mg/kg every 8 hours 2-3 weeks, then maintenance 60 mg/kg daily, 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 for foscarnet sodium**
- **Child (under expert supervision)** (By intravenous infusion): 40 mg/kg every 8 hours for 2-3 weeks or until lesions heal.
Cautions
Conditions where excess sodium should be avoided; ensure adequate hydration
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)
Pregnancy
Manufacturer advises avoid.
Breast feeding
Avoid-present in milk in animal studies.
Renal impairment
Manufacturer advises caution. Dose adjustments Manufacturer advises dose reduction (consult product literature).
Medicinal forms
Clinical governance
**Author:** MedNext Clinical Team. **Clinical reviewer:** Dr Shameer Deen, MBBS, MS, MRCS. **Sources:** BNF, Indian Pharmacopoeia, CIMS India. **Correction:** Report errors at support@mednext.academy.
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