cidofovir
Brand names: Vistide
Cidofovir injection is an antiviral medicine. It is used to treat CMV retinitis, an eye infection, in people with AIDS.
What it does
Cidofovir treats CMV retinitis in people who have AIDS.
Common side effects
Kidney problems, Lowered white blood cell count, Decreased eye pressure
Key warnings
Cidofovir can cause serious kidney damage, possibly leading to death.
How It Works
Cidofovir stops the CMV virus from making copies of itself. It does this by blocking a key enzyme the virus needs to reproduce its DNA. This helps to reduce the amount of virus in your body.
How to Take It
Cidofovir is given into your vein through an IV. You'll get it once a week for 2 weeks, then once every 2 weeks. Each infusion takes 1 hour. You must also take probenecid pills and receive IV fluids with each cidofovir dose to protect your kidneys.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Cidofovir may cause harm to an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if cidofovir passes into breast milk, so talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
Missed Dose
If you miss a cidofovir dose, call your doctor right away to reschedule. It is important to get each dose on time.
Storage
Store cidofovir injection at room temperature, away from heat and light.
Serious Warnings
Cidofovir can cause serious kidney damage, possibly leading to death. To reduce this risk, you must receive IV fluids and take probenecid pills with each dose. Your kidney function and white blood cell counts will be checked regularly. This drug can also cause birth defects and cancer, based on animal studies. It is only for treating CMV retinitis in AIDS patients.
Known Drug Interactions
Nephrotoxic agents Concomitant administration of cidofovir injection and agents with nephrotoxic potential [e.g., intravenous aminoglycosides (e.g., tobramycin, gentamicin, and amikacin), amphotericin B, foscarnet, intravenous pentamidine, vancomycin, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents] is contraindicated.
Mechanism: Both drugs can harm the kidneys. Taking them at the same time increases the risk of serious kidney damage.
What to do: Do not take these two medicines together. Your doctor should use a different treatment to protect your kidneys.
Nephrotoxic agents Concomitant administration of cidofovir injection and agents with nephrotoxic potential [e.g., intravenous aminoglycosides (e.g., tobramycin, gentamicin, and amikacin), amphotericin B, foscarnet, intravenous pentamidine, vancomycin, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents] is contraindicated.
Mechanism: These medications are both known to be toxic to the kidneys. Using them together can cause severe kidney problems.
What to do: This combination should be avoided. Your healthcare provider will need to find a safer alternative.
Nephrotoxic agents Concomitant administration of cidofovir injection and agents with nephrotoxic potential [e.g., intravenous aminoglycosides (e.g., tobramycin, gentamicin, and amikacin), amphotericin B, foscarnet, intravenous pentamidine, vancomycin, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents] is contraindicated.
Mechanism: Both drugs have the potential to damage your kidneys. Taking them together adds to this risk and can lead to kidney failure.
What to do: Do not use these drugs at the same time. Your doctor must choose a different therapy.
Nephrotoxic agents Concomitant administration of cidofovir injection and agents with nephrotoxic potential [e.g., intravenous aminoglycosides (e.g., tobramycin, gentamicin, and amikacin), amphotericin B, foscarnet, intravenous pentamidine, vancomycin, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents] is contraindicated.
Mechanism: Both of these drugs can be harmful to the kidneys. Using them together significantly increases the chance of kidney injury.
What to do: You should not take these medicines together. Your doctor will need to change your treatment plan to avoid this combination.
Nephrotoxic agents Concomitant administration of cidofovir injection and agents with nephrotoxic potential [e.g., intravenous aminoglycosides (e.g., tobramycin, gentamicin, and amikacin), amphotericin B, foscarnet, intravenous pentamidine, vancomycin, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents] is contraindicated.
Mechanism: Both drugs can cause damage to the kidneys. Combining them makes kidney injury much more likely.
What to do: This drug combination should be avoided. Your doctor will need to use a different medicine that is safer for your kidneys.
Common Questions
Can cidofovir cure my CMV retinitis?
What if I am allergic to sulfa drugs?
Can I take other medicines with cidofovir?
Will I lose my vision while taking cidofovir?
How often will I need to see the doctor?
What is the role of probenecid?
What if I get nauseous from the probenecid?
Can cidofovir affect my fertility?
What are the symptoms of kidney problems I should watch for?
Is it safe to drive or operate machinery while taking cidofovir?
What are the common side effects of cidofovir?
Does cidofovir interact with other medications?
What drug class is cidofovir?
Is cidofovir safe during pregnancy?
Related Medications in Antiviral (Nucleotide Analog)
Other drugs grouped near cidofovir — same-class peers and common alternatives.
acyclovir
Zovirax
Acyclovir is an antiviral medicine.
Compare with cidofovir →
albendazole
Albenza
Albendazole is a medicine that fights parasites.
Compare with cidofovir →
amphotericin B
Ambisome, Fungizone
Amphotericin B liposome is an antifungal medicine.
Compare with cidofovir →
anidulafungin
Eraxis
Eraxis is an antifungal medicine.
Compare with cidofovir →
atovaquone/proguanil
Malarone
Malarone is a drug used to prevent and treat malaria.
Compare with cidofovir →
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What the FDA Data Shows for cidofovir
The FDA label for cidofovir (sold under brand names such as Vistide) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Antiviral (Nucleotide Analog) class. Cidofovir treats CMV retinitis in people who have AIDS. Official labeling lists 4 commonly reported side effects, including Kidney problems, Lowered white blood cell count, Decreased eye pressure.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. Voluntary reports accumulate over the lifetime of a drug and reflect wide-ranging clinical use. The database also lists 16 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated major severity. Acquisition-cost data is surveyed weekly by CMS and updated as manufacturers report changes.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: October 25, 2023
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages