Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: GANCICLOVIR versus HERPLEX.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: GANCICLOVIR versus HERPLEX.
GANCICLOVIR vs HERPLEX
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Ganciclovir is a synthetic guanine nucleoside analog that inhibits viral DNA synthesis by competitively inhibiting viral DNA polymerase and by incorporating into viral DNA, causing chain termination. It requires initial phosphorylation by viral thymidine kinase (CMV) or protein kinase (HSV).
Inhibits viral DNA polymerase after phosphorylation to acyclovir triphosphate, leading to chain termination and inhibition of herpes simplex virus replication.
Induction: 5 mg/kg IV every 12 hours for 14-21 days. Maintenance: 5 mg/kg IV every 24 hours. Oral: 1000 mg three times daily with food.
Acyclovir 200 mg orally 5 times daily for 10 days for initial genital herpes; 400 mg orally twice daily for suppressive therapy; 5-10 mg/kg IV every 8 hours for severe infections.
None Documented
None Documented
Clinical Note
moderateGanciclovir + Probenecid
"The serum concentration of Probenecid can be increased when it is combined with Ganciclovir."
Clinical Note
moderateValganciclovir + Probenecid
"The serum concentration of Probenecid can be increased when it is combined with Valganciclovir."
Clinical Note
moderateGanciclovir + Mycophenolic acid
"The serum concentration of Mycophenolic acid can be increased when it is combined with Ganciclovir."
Clinical Note
moderateValganciclovir + Mycophenolic acid
Terminal half-life: 2.5-5.0 hours in normal renal function; prolonged to 10-30 hours in renal impairment; requires dose adjustment for CrCl <70 mL/min
2.5–3.3 hours in adults with normal renal function; prolonged to 10–20 hours in anuria (CrCl <10 mL/min); requires dose adjustment in renal impairment
Renal excretion: >90% unchanged; biliary/fecal: minimal (<5%)
Renal: ~90% as unchanged drug via glomerular filtration and tubular secretion; minor biliary/fecal elimination (<2%)
Category D/X
Category C
Antiviral
Antiviral
"The serum concentration of Mycophenolic acid can be increased when it is combined with Valganciclovir."