famciclovir
Brand names: Famvir
Famciclovir is an antiviral medicine. It helps to treat infections caused by certain viruses.
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$0.24/unit
Generic Available
Yes (5 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
This medicine treats herpes infections.
Common side effects
Headache, Nausea
Key warnings
If you have kidney problems, make sure your doctor knows.
How It Works
Famciclovir stops the virus 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 infection.
How to Take It
You can take famciclovir with or without food. For cold sores, you may only need one dose. For other infections, you may need to take it for several days. Follow your doctor's instructions carefully.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Untreated herpes during pregnancy can harm the baby. It is not known if famciclovir passes into breast milk.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
Storage
Store famciclovir tablets at room temperature, away from heat and moisture.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 1,318 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 2,678 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2004–2025.
Total Reports
2,678
Death-Related Reports
265
Hospitalization Reports
836
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | FATIGUE | 185 |
| 2 | DIARRHOEA | 179 |
| 3 | NAUSEA | 145 |
| 4 | HEADACHE | 135 |
| 5 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 133 |
| 6 | OFF LABEL USE | 125 |
| 7 | PAIN | 118 |
| 8 | RASH | 113 |
| 9 | DIZZINESS | 98 |
| 10 | PYREXIA | 87 |
| 11 | DEATH | 86 |
| 12 | DYSPNOEA | 86 |
| 13 | PNEUMONIA | 85 |
| 14 | VOMITING | 77 |
| 15 | HERPES ZOSTER | 72 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
If you have kidney problems, make sure your doctor knows. Taking too much famciclovir when you have kidney problems can damage your kidneys.
Known Drug Interactions
7.2 Potential for Other Drugs to Affect Penciclovir No clinically significant alterations in penciclovir pharmacokinetics were observed following single-dose administration of 500 mg famciclovir after pretreatment with multiple doses of allopurinol, cimetidine, theophylline, zidovudine, promethazine, when given shortly after an antacid (magnesium and aluminum hydroxide), or concomitantly with emtricitabine.
Mechanism: These two drugs do not have a meaningful effect on how the body breaks down or uses either medicine.
What to do: No special precautions or dose changes are typically needed when using these drugs at the same time.
(7.2) 7.1 Potential for Famciclovir to Affect Other Drugs The steady-state pharmacokinetics of digoxin were not altered by concomitant administration of multiple doses of famciclovir (500 mg three times daily). No clinically significant effect on penciclovir pharmacokinetics was observed following multiple-dose (three times daily) administration of famciclovir (500 mg) with multiple doses of digoxin.
Mechanism: These medicines do not change each other's levels in the body when they are taken together.
What to do: You can generally take these two medications together without any special monitoring or dose adjustments.
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Probenecid: May increase penciclovir levels. Concurrent use with probenecid or other drugs significantly eliminated by active renal tubular secretion may result in increased plasma concentrations of penciclovir.
Mechanism: Probenecid stops the kidneys from clearing the other medicine out of your system as quickly as usual.
What to do: Your doctor may need to watch you more closely for side effects because the amount of medicine in your blood could increase.
7.2 Potential for Other Drugs to Affect Penciclovir No clinically significant alterations in penciclovir pharmacokinetics were observed following single-dose administration of 500 mg famciclovir after pretreatment with multiple doses of allopurinol, cimetidine, theophylline, zidovudine, promethazine, when given shortly after an antacid (magnesium and aluminum hydroxide), or concomitantly with emtricitabine.
Mechanism: Studies show that theophylline does not change how the body breaks down or uses famciclovir.
What to do: You can take these medications together without any special changes.
7.2 Potential for Other Drugs to Affect Penciclovir No clinically significant alterations in penciclovir pharmacokinetics were observed following single-dose administration of 500 mg famciclovir after pretreatment with multiple doses of allopurinol, cimetidine, theophylline, zidovudine, promethazine, when given shortly after an antacid (magnesium and aluminum hydroxide), or concomitantly with emtricitabine. Clinical interaction studies of famciclovir with cimetidine and promethazine, in vitro inhibitors of aldehyde oxidase, did not show relevant effects on the formation of penciclovir.
Mechanism: Cimetidine does not interfere with the enzymes that turn famciclovir into its active form.
What to do: No dosage changes are needed when taking these two drugs at the same time.
Common Questions
Can I take famciclovir if I'm allergic to penciclovir cream (Denavir)?
How quickly should I start taking famciclovir for shingles?
Can famciclovir cure herpes?
What should I do if I experience side effects while taking famciclovir?
Can I drink alcohol while taking famciclovir?
Does famciclovir interact with other medications?
How long will I need to take famciclovir?
Can famciclovir prevent the spread of genital herpes?
What should I do if I think I have taken too much famciclovir?
Is famciclovir safe for children?
What are the common side effects of famciclovir?
Does famciclovir interact with other medications?
What drug class is famciclovir?
Is famciclovir safe during pregnancy?
Has famciclovir been recalled?
Active Recalls
Presence of Foreign Substance- Black hair strand found attached to a tablet in a sealed bottle.
Macleods Pharmaceuticals Ltd
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Medication Guides
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What the FDA Data Shows for famciclovir
The FDA label for famciclovir (sold under brand names such as Famvir) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Antiviral (Nucleoside Analog) class. This medicine treats herpes infections. Official labeling lists 2 commonly reported side effects, including Headache, Nausea.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 1,318 voluntary reports. The database also lists 7 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated minor severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.24.
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 (currently 1 recall record on file), 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). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
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: January 9, 2025
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