ganciclovir vs probenecid

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Side-by-side comparison of ganciclovir and probenecid. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

minor Known Drug Interaction

Probenecid ↑ Ganciclovir Ganciclovir Injection dose may need to be reduced. (7) Probenecid: May increase ganciclovir levels.

Drug Class
ganciclovir Antiviral (Nucleoside Analog)
probenecid Uricosuric Agent
Type
ganciclovir Prescription
probenecid Prescription
Summary
ganciclovir

Ganciclovir injection is an antiviral medicine. It helps treat and prevent cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections.

probenecid

No summary available.

What It Treats
ganciclovir

This medicine treats CMV retinitis, an eye infection, in people with weak immune systems, including those with AIDS. It also prevents CMV disease in adults who have had organ transplants and are at risk for CMV.

probenecid

Information not available.

How It Works
ganciclovir

Ganciclovir stops CMV from multiplying. It does this by blocking a key enzyme the virus needs to make copies of itself. This helps your body fight off the CMV infection.

probenecid

Information not available.

Common Side Effects
ganciclovir
  • Fever
  • Diarrhea
  • Low white blood cell count
  • Nausea
  • Anemia (low red blood cell count)
probenecid
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea
  • Yeast infection of the vagina
  • Headache
  • Vomiting
FAERS Reports
ganciclovir
  • Cytomegalovirus Infection 1,170
  • Drug Resistance 653
  • Pyrexia 590
  • Neutropenia 503
  • Pancytopenia 503
probenecid
  • Diarrhoea 76
  • Dyspnoea 52
  • Adenovirus Infection 47
  • Asthenia 47
  • Fatigue 46
Serious Warnings
ganciclovir

This drug can cause serious side effects. It can lower blood cell counts, possibly leading to severe infections or bleeding. It may also harm fertility in both men and women. Ganciclovir can cause birth defects and may increase your risk of cancer. Talk to your doctor about these risks.

probenecid

No specific warnings noted.

Pregnancy
ganciclovir

Ganciclovir can harm your unborn baby. Do not get pregnant while taking this medicine. Talk to your doctor about birth control. Breastfeeding is not recommended while using this medicine.

probenecid

No pregnancy information available.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This ganciclovir vs probenecid Comparison

ganciclovir is classified in the Antiviral (Nucleoside Analog) drug class, while probenecid sits within the Uricosuric Agent class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, ganciclovir has 3,419 submissions while probenecid has 268. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to probenecid makes it harder for your body to remove ganciclovir, causing the drug to stay in your system longer.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for ganciclovir or probenecid.

Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.