Consumer medicine information

FAMLO for shingles

Famciclovir


Consumer Medicine Information

What is in this leaflet

This leaflet answers some common questions about FAMLO.

It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your pharmacist or doctor.

The information in this leaflet was last updated on the date listed on the final page.

Some more recent information on the medicine may be available.

You should ensure that you speak to your pharmacist or doctor to obtain the most up to date information on the medicine.

All medicines have risks and benefits. Your pharmacist or doctor has weighed the risks of you taking FAMLO against the benefits it can provide.

If you have any concerns about this medicine, ask your pharmacist or doctor.

Keep this leaflet with the medicine. You may need to read it again.

What FAMLO is used for

FAMLO is an antiviral medicine that is used to treat shingles in adults and adolescents.

Shingles is a condition that is caused by a herpes virus called varicella zoster, the same virus that causes chicken pox. The virus can become active again in the body, even after many years, resulting in shingles. The main symptom is a rash that can cause pain, burning and blisters.

Although FAMLO does not cure the viral infection, it helps to relieve the symptoms and shorten their duration.

The best results are obtained if the medicine is started as soon as possible after the first symptoms begin to appear.

Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why this medicine has been prescribed for you. Your doctor may have prescribed it for another reason.

FAMLO is only available with a doctor’s prescription. It is not addictive.

This medicine is not recommended for use in children under 12 years of age.

Before you take FAMLO

When you must not take it

Do not take FAMLO if you have an allergy to:

  • famciclovir, the active ingredient
  • penciclovir, a related antiviral medicine
  • any of the other ingredients of FAMLO listed at the end of this leaflet.

Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include:

  • shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing
  • swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body
  • rash, itching or hives on the skin

Do not take this medicine after the expiry date printed on the pack, or if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering. In that case, return it to your pharmacist.

Before you start to take it

Tell your doctor if you have a problem with:

  • your body’s immune system, which helps to fight off infections
  • your kidneys
  • your liver

Your doctor may want to take extra precautions in that case.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, intend to become pregnant or if you are breast-feeding. FAMLO should not be used during pregnancy unless necessary. Your doctor will discuss with you the potential risks of taking FAMLO during pregnancy, and will also advise you if you should take FAMLO while breast-feeding, based on the benefits and risks of your particular situation. FAMLO

Tell your doctor if you are allergic to any other medicines, foods, dyes or preservatives. Your doctor will want to know if you are prone to allergies.

If you experience an allergic reaction, stop using the medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Taking other medicines

Tell your pharmacist or doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you buy without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.

Some medicines and FAMLO may interfere with each other. These include:

  • probenecid, a prescription medicine used to treat gout (a disease with painful, swollen joints, caused by uric acid crystals) and to increase blood levels of penicillin-type antibiotics
  • raloxifene, a medicine used to treat osteoporosis (a disease which causes bones to become less dense, gradually making them weaker, more brittle and likely to break)
  • medicines that can affect your kidneys.

You may need to take different amounts of these medicines or you may need to take different medicines. Your pharmacist and doctor have more information.

If you have not told your pharmacist or doctor about any of these things, tell him/her before you start taking this medicine.

How to take FAMLO

Swallow the tablets whole with a full glass of water.

The tablets may be taken with or without food.

Follow all directions given to you by your doctor and pharmacist carefully. These instructions may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.

If you do not understand the instructions on the label, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.

How much to take

The usual dose is one 250 mg tablet three times each day for seven days, beginning no later than 72 hours after the rash appears.

Your doctor may have prescribed a different dose.

For people whose immune system does not work as well as it should, the dose and duration of treatment may be increased.

For people who have reduced kidney function, the dose may be reduced.

Follow your doctor’s instructions on how many FAMLO tablets to take.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure of the correct dose for you. They will tell you exactly how much to take.

Follow the instructions that they give you.

When to take it

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, take one tablet when you get up in the morning, one in the afternoon and one just before going to bed at night.

Try to take the tablets at about the same time each day.

How long to take it

Continue taking FAMLO every day for the full course of treatment. To help clear up your infection, you must take the full course of treatment, even if your symptoms begin to clear up after a few days.

If you forget to take it

Take a dose as soon as you remember. Take your next tablet at the usual time, and then go back to taking it as you would normally.

Do not take two doses within a time frame of less than one hour. In that case, skip the missed dose.

Do not take a double dose to make up for the one that you missed. This may increase the chance of you getting an unwanted side effect.

If you have trouble remembering when to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints.

If you take too much (Overdose)

Immediately telephone your doctor or the Poisons Information Centre (telephone number 13 11 26), or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much FAMLO. Show them your pack of tablets. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. Keep the telephone numbers for these places handy.

Taking too much FAMLO may affect the kidneys. In people who already have kidney problems it may, rarely, lead to kidney failure if their dose is not correctly lowered.

While you are taking FAMLO

Things you must do

If you become pregnant while taking FAMLO, tell your doctor. Your doctor can discuss with you the risks of taking it while you are pregnant.

If you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind your doctor and pharmacist that you are taking FAMLO.

Tell any other doctor, dentist or pharmacist who treats you that you are taking FAMLO.

Things you must not do

Do not give this medicine to anyone else even if their condition seems to be the same as yours.

Do not use it to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.

Do not stop taking your tablets or change the dosage without checking with your doctor first. If you stop your tablets suddenly, your condition may worsen or you may have unwanted side effects.

Things to be careful of

If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine.

Be careful driving, operating machinery or doing jobs that require you to be alert until you know how FAMLOaffects you. This medicine can cause dizziness, sleepiness or confusion in some people.

Things that may help your condition

Take the following precautions to help manage your condition:

  • Keep the areas affected by the virus as clean and dry as possible.
  • Wear loose-fitting clothing to avoid irritating the rash.
  • Avoid touching or scratching the sore area as you may spread the virus on your fingers.

Side effects

Tell your pharmacist or doctor as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking FAMLO.

All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.

Do not be alarmed by these lists of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.

Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following side effects and they worry you:

  • headache
  • dizziness
  • nausea (feeling sick) or vomiting
  • diarrhoea
  • itching or an itchy rash (urticaria)
  • abnormal liver function test results

The above side effects are usually mild.

Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you notice any of the following:

  • a rash that is separate from the shingles rash
  • extreme sleepiness or confusion, usually in older people
  • hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not really there)
  • painful or swollen joints
  • aching muscles or muscle tenderness or weakness that is not caused by exercise.

The above side effects may need medical attention.

Tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital if any of the following side effects happen to you:

  • swelling below the surface of the skin (eg swelling around the face, eye, eyelid or throat)
  • bruising or bleeding more easily than usual, as it may indicate that the number of platelets (a type of blood cell responsible for blood clotting) in your blood are reduced
  • signs of a serious skin or mouth reaction, which may include widespread red raised areas, blisters or sores
  • signs of a possible liver problem such as persistent pain in the upper right abdomen, yellowing of the skin and/or eyes, dark urine or pale bowel motions

The above side effects are very rare.

Tell your doctor if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell. Other side effects not listed here or not yet known may happen in some people.

After using FAMLO

Storage

  • Keep your medicine in the original container until it is time to take it.
  • Store your tablets in a dry place at room temperature.
  • Do not store your medicines in the bathroom or near a sink.
  • Do not leave the tablets in the car or on window sills.

Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines. FAMLO tablets will keep best if they are stored cool and dry.

Keep the medicine where children cannot reach it. A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.

Disposal

If your doctor tells you to stop taking this medicine or the expiry date has passed, ask your pharmacist what to do with any medicine that you have left over.

Product description

What it looks like

FAMLO 250 mg tablets are white, round film-coated tablets, marked with “FM” on one side and “250” on the other.

FAMLO 500 mg tablets are white, oval, film-coated tablets with “FM” on one side and “500” on the reverse side.

Ingredients

Active Ingredient
FAMLO 250 contain 250 mg famciclovir per tablet

FAMLO 500 contain 500 mg famciclovir per tablet.

Inactive ingredients
Microcrystalline cellulose, crospovidone, colloidal anhydrous silica, copovidone, sodium stearylfumarate and Opadry White YS-22-18096.

Sponsor

Southern Cross Pharma Pty Ltd
56 Illabunda Drive
Malua Bay NSW 2536

ABN 47 094 447 677

Distributor

Ranbaxy Australia Pty Ltd
Ground Floor 9-13 Waterloo Road
North Ryde
NSW 2113

Date of Information: 6 September 2013

Australian Registration Number:

FAMLO 250 mg
Blister pack 176994
Bottle 176995

FAMLO 500 mg
Blister pack 176996
Bottle 176997

Published by MIMS December 2017