valganciclovir
Brand names: Valcyte
Valganciclovir is an antiviral medicine. It helps prevent cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease in children who have received kidney or heart transplants.
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$2.00/unit
Generic Available
Yes (13 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
This medicine prevents CMV disease in children after they get a kidney or heart transplant.
Common side effects
Diarrhea, Fever, Upper respiratory infection
Key warnings
Valganciclovir can cause serious side effects, including: - Lowered blood cell counts.
How It Works
Valganciclovir changes into ganciclovir in your body. Ganciclovir stops CMV from making copies of itself. This helps to prevent or treat CMV infections.
How to Take It
Give this medicine to your child exactly as prescribed by their doctor. It is usually taken once a day with food. The dose is based on your child's body surface area and kidney function. The pharmacist will prepare the oral solution before you give it to your child.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
This medicine can cause birth defects. Do not take it if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Breastfeeding is not recommended while taking this medicine.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, give it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with the regular schedule.
Storage
Store the dry powder at room temperature. Store the mixed solution in the refrigerator for up to 49 days. Do not freeze.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 12,178 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 18,056 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2004–2025.
Total Reports
18,056
Death-Related Reports
3,133
Hospitalization Reports
8,858
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | OFF LABEL USE | 2,858 |
| 2 | CYTOMEGALOVIRUS INFECTION | 1,756 |
| 3 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 1,426 |
| 4 | NEUTROPENIA | 1,096 |
| 5 | PYREXIA | 939 |
| 6 | DIARRHOEA | 916 |
| 7 | LEUKOPENIA | 914 |
| 8 | ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY | 797 |
| 9 | DEATH | 754 |
| 10 | CYTOMEGALOVIRUS VIRAEMIA | 722 |
| 11 | PANCYTOPENIA | 662 |
| 12 | DRUG RESISTANCE | 637 |
| 13 | TRANSPLANT REJECTION | 631 |
| 14 | ANAEMIA | 621 |
| 15 | THROMBOCYTOPENIA | 605 |
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
Valganciclovir can cause serious side effects, including: - Lowered blood cell counts. This can lead to infections and bleeding. - Fertility problems in both men and women. - Birth defects if taken during pregnancy. - Cancer. Talk to your doctor about these risks.
Known Drug Interactions
Cyclosporine or amphotericin B Unknown Monitor renal function when valganciclovir is coadministered with cyclosporine or amphotericin B because of potential increase in serum creatinine [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)]. ( 7 ) Cyclosporine or amphotericin B: When coadministered with valganciclovir, the risk of nephrotoxicity may be increased.
Mechanism: Taking these two medications together can increase the risk of damage to your kidneys.
What to do: Your healthcare provider should monitor your kidney function tests regularly while you are using both drugs.
Cyclosporine or amphotericin B Unknown Monitor renal function when valganciclovir is coadministered with cyclosporine or amphotericin B because of potential increase in serum creatinine [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)]. ( 7 ) Cyclosporine or amphotericin B: When coadministered with valganciclovir, the risk of nephrotoxicity may be increased.
Mechanism: Both of these drugs can be hard on the kidneys, and using them at the same time increases the chance of kidney injury.
What to do: Your doctor should check your kidney function frequently to ensure the organs are working properly during treatment.
Other drugs associated with myelosuppression or nephrotoxicity (e.g., adriamycin, dapsone, doxorubicin, flucytosine, hydroxyurea, pentamidine, tacrolimus, trimethoprim/ sulfamethoxazole, vinblastine, vincristine, and zidovudine) Unknown Because of potential for higher toxicity, coadministration with valganciclovir should be considered only if the potential benefits are judged to outweigh the risks.
Mechanism: Both drugs can cause similar side effects like bone marrow suppression or kidney damage, which increases the risk of these problems when used together.
What to do: Your doctor should only use these drugs together if the benefits outweigh the risks and will likely monitor your blood counts and kidney function.
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS In vivo drug-drug interaction studies were not conducted with valganciclovir. However, because valganciclovir is rapidly and extensively converted to ganciclovir, drug-drug interactions associated with ganciclovir will be expected for valganciclovir. Drug-drug interaction studies with ganciclovir were conducted in patients with normal renal function.
Mechanism: Valganciclovir is quickly changed into ganciclovir by the body, so taking both at the same time is like taking the same medicine twice.
What to do: Avoid taking these two drugs together as it can lead to an overdose of the active medication.
Didanosine ↔ Ganciclovir ↑ Didanosine Patients should be closely monitored for didanosine toxicity (e.g., pancreatitis) Probenecid ↑ Ganciclovir Valganciclovir dose may need to be reduced. ( 7 ) Probenecid: May increase ganciclovir levels.
Mechanism: Probenecid makes it harder for the body to remove ganciclovir, which can lead to higher amounts of the drug staying in your blood.
What to do: Your doctor may need to lower your dose of valganciclovir to keep the drug at a safe level in your body.
Common Questions
What is valganciclovir used for?
How often should I give this medicine?
Should I give it with food?
What should I do if my child vomits after taking a dose?
How long will my child need to take this medicine?
What are the most common side effects?
Can this medicine affect my child's ability to have children in the future?
What blood tests will my child need while taking this medicine?
Can valganciclovir interact with other medicines?
What should I do if my child experiences side effects?
What are the common side effects of valganciclovir?
Does valganciclovir interact with other medications?
What drug class is valganciclovir?
Is valganciclovir safe during pregnancy?
Related Medications in Antiviral (Nucleoside Analog)
Other drugs grouped near valganciclovir — same-class peers and common alternatives.
acyclovir
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albendazole
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amphotericin B
Ambisome, Fungizone
Amphotericin B liposome is an antifungal medicine.
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anidulafungin
Eraxis
Eraxis is an antifungal medicine.
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atovaquone/proguanil
Malarone
Malarone is a drug used to prevent and treat malaria.
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What the FDA Data Shows for valganciclovir
The FDA label for valganciclovir (sold under brand names such as Valcyte) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Antiviral (Nucleoside Analog) class. This medicine prevents CMV disease in children after they get a kidney or heart transplant. Official labeling lists 8 commonly reported side effects, including Diarrhea, Fever, Upper respiratory infection.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 12,178 voluntary reports. The database also lists 8 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated moderate severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $2.00.
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). 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 19, 2026
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