Prevymis

Prevymis is a prescription medication used to prevent a viral infection called cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in persons that receive a stem cell transplant and are at risk of infection.

Prevymis belongs to a group of drugs called antivirals. These work by preventing the spread of the CMV.

This medication comes in tablet form and is taken once a day, with or without food. 

Do not chew, divide, or break Prevymis tablets. Swallow tablets whole.

This medication is also available in an injectable form to be given directly into a vein (IV) by a healthcare professional.

Common side effects of Prevymis include nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting.

Prevymis is a prescription medication used to prevent a viral infection called cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in persons that receive a stem cell transplant and are at risk of infection.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Serious side effects have been reported with Prevymis. See the “Prevymis Precautions” section.

Common side effects of Prevymis include the following:

• nausea
• diarrhea
• vomiting
• swelling in the hands, arms, feet or legs
• cough
• headache
• tiredness
• abdominal (stomach) pain

This is not a complete list of Prevymis side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effects that bother you or that do not go away.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• pimozide
• ergotamine or dihydroergotamine
• immune suppressing drugs like cyclosporine, sirolimus, and tacrolimus
• drugs that inhibit HMG-CoA reductase (called statins) such as atorvastatin, pitavastatin, simvastatin, pravastatin, and rosuvastatin
• medications that use the enzyme CYP3A4 such as budesonide (Entocort), darifenacin (Enablex), fentanyl (Abstral, Fentora, Onsolis, Actiq), quinidine (Cardioquin, Duraquin, Quinact), terfenadine (Seldane), fluticasone (Flovent HFA, Flonase), eletriptan (Relpax),  quetiapine (Seroquel), and sildenafil (Viagra, Revatio), 
• amiodarone
• warfarin
• phenytoin
• antidiabetic agents like glyburide, repaglinide, rosglitazone
• voriconazole
• rifampin
• drugs that reduce acid like omeprazole and pantoprazole

This is not a complete list of Prevymis drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Do not take Prevymis if you take:

• Pimozide
• Ergot alkaloids

If you are taking Prevymis with cyclosporine, do not take:

• Pitavastatin or simvastatin 

Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of Prevymis, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication.

Before taking Prevymis, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

• are allergic to Prevymis or to any of its ingredients
• have liver problems
• have kidney problems
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

In animal studies, pregnant animals were given this medication and had some babies born with problems. No well-controlled studies have been done in humans. Therefore, this medication may be used if the potential benefits to the mother outweigh the potential risks to the unborn child.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

It is not known if Prevymis crosses into human milk. Because many medications can cross into human milk and because of the possibility for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants with use of this medication, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or stop the use of this medication. Your doctor and you will decide if the benefits outweigh the risk of using Prevymis.

Oral:

Take Prevymis exactly as prescribed.

Prevymis comes in tablet form and is taken once a day. Take with or without food.

Do not chew, divide, or break Prevymis tablets. Swallow tablets whole.

If you miss a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take two doses of Prevymis at the same time.

Injectable:

This medication is available in an injectable form to be given directly into a vein (IV) once a day by a healthcare professional.

If you miss or skip a dose, call your healthcare provider right away.

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

The recommended dose of Prevymis for the prevention of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is 480 mg once daily.

Your doctor may adjust your dose depending on other medications you are taking.

Oral:

If you take too much Prevymis, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center, or seek emergency medical attention right away.

Injectable:

If Prevymis is administered by a healthcare provider in a medical setting, it is unlikely that an overdose will occur. However, if overdose is suspected, seek emergency medical attention.

• Store Prevymis at room temperature.
• Store Prevymis in the original package until it is ready to be taken.
• Keep this and all medicines out of the reach of children.