Famvir side effects

Famvir (famciclovir) is a prescription antiviral medication for treating a number of highly contagious diseases and infections, including genital herpes, cold sores and shingles. This article gives you a detailed list of Famvir side effects, common and rare ones included.

What are the most common side effects of Famvir?

The most commonly reported side effects of Famvir include dizziness, nausea, headache, and stomach upset. None of these side effects should last for a worrying length of time.

The most common Famvir side effects include stomach problems, headache and nausea. The good news is that when you take this medicine under medical supervision, chances are slim that you will experience any side effect. However, if any of these side effects gets too discomforting, you should stop taking the medicine and inform your doctor immediately.

What are the rare side effects?

Some side effects of famciclovir may be a bit more serious than what you expect and if you experience any of them, talk to your doctor or pharmacist at the earliest. These rarely reported side effects include rash, confusion or drowsiness, swollen joints, hallucinations, muscle aches and muscle tenderness or weakness.

In the rarest of cases, Famvir can cause side effects which need immediate medical attention. Unrelenting pain in the upper-right abdomen and discolouration of urine or feces may also occur after taking Famvir. You may also experience jaundice-like symptoms such as yellowish skin and pale eyes after you take Famvir for herpes, sores or shingles treatment. Go to your nearest health clinic should you encounter any of these side effects.

Precautions you need to take

Famvir is a strong antiviral medicine and it should be taken with caution. Never give this medicine to someone in your family who seems to be suffering from any of the conditions Famvir is meant to treat. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery when you are on Famvir. Maintain personal hygiene before, during and after an STD treatment. Risk of side effects may increase alarmingly if you stop taking Famvir midway through a prescribed course of treatment or if you overdose the medicine. Keep taking the medicine as prescribed, even if the symptoms of the condition you are being treated for go away earlier than anticipated. Conversely, never exceed a prescribed course of treatment, even if you do not get relief from the symptoms. Under such circumstances, talk to your doctor and let him/her decide what can be done for more effective treatment.