Vistide

Vistide is used to treat cytomegalovirus retinitis, which is viral inflammation of the retina of the eye, in people with acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

Vistide Overview

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Vistide is a prescription medication used to treat cytomegaloviral (CMV) retinitis, which is a viral inflammation of the eye, in people with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Vistide belongs to a group of drugs called antiviral agents. These work by stopping the growth of viruses that cause infections.

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

Common side effects of Vistide include headache, diarrhea, stomach pain, constipation, sore mouth or tongue, joint and muscle pain, coughing, fever, and chills.

Vistide can also cause dizziness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how Vistide affects you.

How was your experience with Vistide?

First, a little about yourself

Tell us about yourself in a few words?

What tips would you provide a friend before taking Vistide?

What are you taking Vistide for?

Choose one
  • Other
  • Aids-related Opportunistic Infections
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections
  • Cytomegalovirus Retinitis

How long have you been taking it?

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  • Less than a week
  • A couple weeks
  • A month or so
  • A few months
  • A year or so
  • Two years or more

How well did Vistide work for you?

Did you experience many side effects while taking this drug?

How likely would you be to recommend Vistide to a friend?

Vistide Cautionary Labels

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Uses of Vistide

Vistide is a prescription medication used to treat cytomegaloviral (CMV) retinitis, which is a viral inflammation of the eye, in people with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).

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

Manufacturer

Vistide Drug Class

Vistide is part of the drug class:

Side Effects of Vistide

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

Common side effects of Vistide include the following:

  • headache
  • diarrhea
  • stomach pain
  • constipation
  • sore mouth or tongue
  • joint and muscle pain
  • coughing
  • fever
  • chills

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

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does 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.

Vistide Interactions

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:

  • aminoglycoside antibiotics, including tobramycin (Tobi, Tobrex), gentamicin (Gentak, Garamycin), amikacin (Amikin)
  • amphotericin B (Ambisome, Amphotec)
  • foscarnet (Foscavir)
  • non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs), including ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn)
  • pentamidine (NebuPent)
  • vancomycin (Vancocin)
  • vitamins
  • zidovudine (Combivir, Retrovir, Trizivir)

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

Vistide Precautions

Serious side effects have been reported with Vistide including the following:

  • Uveitis and iritis. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have some or all of the following symptoms of inflammation of parts of the eye:
    • eye pain
    • sensitivity to light
    • decreased vision
  • Allergic reactions. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have some or all of the following symptoms of inflammation of parts of the eye:
    • skin rash
    • itching of the skin

Vistide can cause dizziness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how Vistide affects you.

Do not take Vistide if you:

  • are allergic to Vistide or to any of its ingredients
  • are allergic to probenecid or sulfa-containing medications
  • have severe renal impairment or are at increased risk for kidney damage

Vistide Food Interactions

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 Vistide, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication.

Inform MD

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

  • are allergic to Vistide or to any of its ingredients
  • are allergic to probenecid or sulfa-containing medications
  • have liver problems
  • have kidney problems, including diabetes
  • are pregnant or breastfeeding

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

Vistide and Pregnancy

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

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X - are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Vistide falls into category C. 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.

Vistide and Lactation

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

It is not known if Vistide 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 Vistide.

Vistide Usage

Take Vistide exactly as prescribed.

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

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 Vistide at the same time.

Vistide Dosage

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

The dose your doctor recommends may be based on the following:

  • other medical conditions you have
  • other medications you are taking
  • your weight

The recommended dose of Vistide for the treatment of cytomegaloviral retinitis is 5 mg/kg. It is administered as an infusion over 1 hour every 2 weeks.

Vistide Overdose

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

If Vistide 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.

Other Requirements

Keep this and all medicines out of the reach of children.

Vistide FDA Warning

Acute renal failure resulting in dialysis and/or contributing to death has been reported. Use intravenous prehydration with normal saline and administration of probenecid with each Vistide infusion to reduce nephrotoxicity. Monitor renal function within 48 hours prior to each dose and adjust dose as appropriate. Vistide is contraindicated in patients who are receiving other nephrotoxic agents. Neutropenia has been observed; monitor neutrophil counts during therapy. Vistide was carcinogenic, teratogenic, and caused hypospermia in animal studies.