Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: GANCICLOVIR SODIUM versus ZOVIRAX.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: GANCICLOVIR SODIUM versus ZOVIRAX.
GANCICLOVIR SODIUM vs ZOVIRAX
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Ganciclovir is a synthetic guanine derivative that inhibits viral DNA synthesis. It is phosphorylated to ganciclovir triphosphate by viral thymidine kinase (CMV UL97 gene product) and cellular kinases. Ganciclovir triphosphate competitively inhibits viral DNA polymerase (CMV UL54 gene product) and incorporates into viral DNA, causing chain termination.
After intracellular phosphorylation to acyclovir triphosphate, selectively inhibits viral DNA polymerase and incorporates into viral DNA, causing chain termination.
5 mg/kg IV every 12 hours for 14-21 days for induction; 5 mg/kg IV once daily or 6 mg/kg IV once daily 5 days per week for maintenance. Oral ganciclovir not available as sodium salt.
Herpes simplex: 200 mg orally 5 times daily for 10 days; or 400 mg orally 3 times daily for 5-10 days. Herpes zoster: 800 mg orally 5 times daily for 7-10 days. IV: 5-10 mg/kg every 8 hours for immunocompromised patients with HSV/VZV.
None Documented
None Documented
Terminal half-life: 2.5-3.6 hours in normal renal function; prolonged in renal impairment (up to 30 hours in severe cases). Dosage adjustment required for CrCl <80 mL/min.
Terminal elimination half-life is 2.5-3.3 hours in adults with normal renal function; prolonged to 19.5 hours in anuria (creatinine clearance <10 mL/min).
Renal: >90% unchanged drug via glomerular filtration and tubular secretion. Biliary/fecal: <1%.
Renal excretion of unchanged drug via glomerular filtration and tubular secretion accounts for 76-82% of elimination; fecal excretion is less than 2%.
Category D/X
Category C
Antiviral
Antiviral