Herpigel

Ganciclovir is the active ingredient in this eye gel. It is a guanosine analogue, and once it is phosphorylated inside the cell, it blocks DNA replication in herpes simplex viruses (HSV).

Both viral and cellular thymidine kinases (TK) convert ganciclovir into ganciclovir triphosphate, its active form. This form fights the virus by stopping viral DNA synthesis in two ways: it competitively inhibits viral DNA polymerase, and it is incorporated directly into the growing viral DNA strand, which halts the chain and prevents the DNA from replicating further.

Pregnancy Category C. In animal studies, ganciclovir given intravenously proved embryotoxic in rabbits and mice, and teratogenic in rabbits. Fetal resorption occurred in at least 85% of rabbits and mice given 60 mg/kg/day and 108 mg/kg/day, respectively (roughly 10,000 and 17,000 times the human ocular dose of 6.25 mcg/kg/day, assuming complete absorption).

Nursing Mothers: Whether topical ophthalmic ganciclovir is absorbed into the bloodstream in amounts sufficient to appear in breast milk is not known. Caution should be exercised when it is given to nursing mothers.

Pediatric use: Ganciclovir has not been shown to be safe or effective in children below the age of 2 years.

Geriatric use: Doctors have seen no overall difference in safety or effectiveness between elderly patients and younger ones.

It's unlikely that ganciclovir would cause an overdose when it's used locally or swallowed by accident.

Keep Ganciclovir at 15°C to 30°C, in a dry place and away from light. It's best not to use the contents more than one month after you first open the tube.