ganciclovir sodium at a glance
Medicine class
Direct-acting nucleoside antiviral
Administration
Slow intravenous infusion given by a healthcare professional; not a rapid injection
Key monitoring
Blood counts and kidney function require regular review
Important risk
Can substantially reduce white cells, red cells and platelets
What is ganciclovir sodium used for?
The selected intravenous products have specialist CMV indications.
Licensed treatment of CMV disease in immunocompromised adults and adolescents aged 12 years or over.
Licensed pre-emptive prevention of CMV disease in adults and adolescents aged 12 years or over with drug-induced immunosuppression, such as after transplantation or chemotherapy.
Licensed universal CMV prophylaxis from birth in people with drug-induced immunosuppression.
Specialist non-licensed treatment of symptomatic congenital CMV in younger children, particularly when oral treatment cannot be used or absorption is uncertain.
How does ganciclovir sodium work?
Inside CMV-infected cells, ganciclovir is converted to an active form that interferes with viral DNA polymerase and limits viral DNA extension. It suppresses replication rather than removing latent virus.
ganciclovir sodium preparations and strengths
Solution for infusion
Route: Intravenous
Strengths: 500 mg
How to take ganciclovir sodium
A doctor or nurse prepares the powder and gives the diluted solution into a vein. It must not be given as a rapid injection, into muscle or under the skin, or mixed with other intravenous medicines.
Tell the clinical team about kidney problems, low blood counts, pregnancy, breastfeeding, allergies and all other medicines.
Report pain, redness or swelling around the infusion site promptly.
Do not stop treatment without discussing it with the specialist team.
ganciclovir sodium side effects
Common or expected effects
- Reduced white or red blood cells
- Headache
- Reduced appetite
- Diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain
- Cough or breathlessness
- Fever or tiredness
- Skin inflammation or rash
- Infusion-site pain, inflammation or swelling
Get urgent medical advice
- Severe infection or sepsis associated with reduced white cells
- Serious bleeding associated with reduced platelets
- Pancytopenia or bone-marrow failure
- Severe allergic reaction
- Seizure, hallucinations or psychosis
- Pancreatitis
- Acute kidney impairment or failure
ganciclovir sodium in pregnancy
Ganciclovir crosses the placenta and has potential reproductive and teratogenic toxicity. It should be used during pregnancy only when the specialist considers the clinical need to outweigh fetal risk. Effective contraception is required during treatment and for at least 30 days afterwards for women who could become pregnant. Male patients should use barrier contraception during treatment and for at least 90 days afterwards when their partner could become pregnant.
ganciclovir sodium while breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is contraindicated during intravenous treatment because transfer into human milk is uncertain and serious effects in the infant cannot be excluded. Discuss feeding plans with the specialist team before treatment begins.
ganciclovir sodium interactions
Review all prescribed, over-the-counter and specialist medicines because kidney and bone-marrow toxicity can be additive.
Imipenem with cilastatin
Concurrent use has been associated with seizures and is generally avoided unless the expected benefit outweighs the risk.
Probenecid
May reduce ganciclovir clearance and increase exposure, requiring closer toxicity monitoring.
Common questions about ganciclovir sodium
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Is ganciclovir sodium the same as valganciclovir?
No. Valganciclovir is an oral prodrug converted in the body to ganciclovir; the selected ganciclovir sodium products are intravenous formulations.
Why are blood tests needed?
Ganciclovir can suppress bone marrow and reduce white cells, red cells and platelets. Monitoring helps identify infection, anaemia or bleeding risk early.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.