Valganciclovir Tablets

For all uses of this medicine (valganciclovir tablets):

• Tell all of your health care providers that you take this medicine. This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
• Avoid driving and doing other tasks or actions that call for you to be alert until you see how this medicine (valganciclovir tablets) affects you.
• Have blood work checked as you have been told by the doctor. Talk with the doctor.
• You may have more chance of getting an infection. Wash hands often. Stay away from people with infections, colds, or flu.
• You may bleed more easily. Be careful and avoid injury. Use a soft toothbrush and an electric razor.
• Do not run out of this medicine.
• If you are 65 or older, use this medicine (valganciclovir tablets) with care. You could have more side effects.
• Use with care in children. Talk with the doctor.
• This medicine may affect fertility. Fertility problems may lead to not being able to get pregnant or father a child. In both men and women, this may go back to normal but sometimes it may not. Talk with your doctor.
• If you are a man and have sex with a female who could get pregnant, protect her from pregnancy during care and for 3 months after care ends. Use a condom.
• If you are a man and your sex partner gets pregnant while you take this medicine or within 3 months after your last dose, call your doctor right away.
• This medicine may cause harm to the unborn baby if you take it while you are pregnant.
• If you are able to get pregnant, a pregnancy test will be done to show that you are NOT pregnant before starting this medicine (valganciclovir tablets). Talk with your doctor.
• Use birth control that you can trust to prevent pregnancy while taking this medicine and for 1 month after stopping this medicine (valganciclovir tablets).
• If you get pregnant while taking this medicine or within 1 month after your last dose, call your doctor right away.

For CMV infections of the eye:

• This medicine is not a cure for CMV infections of the eye. Stay under the care of your doctor.
• Have an eye exam as you have been told by your doctor.

Use this medicine (valganciclovir tablets) as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.

• Take this medicine with food.
• Swallow whole. Do not chew, break, or crush.
• To gain the most benefit, do not miss doses.
• Keep taking this medicine (valganciclovir tablets) as you have been told by your doctor or other health care provider, even if you feel well.
• Drink lots of noncaffeine liquids unless told to drink less liquid by your doctor.
• You will need to take special care when handling this medicine. Check with the doctor or pharmacist to see how to handle this medicine (valganciclovir tablets).
• Do not get this medicine, as well as the liquid, broken tablets, or crushed tablets, on your skin or in your eyes, nose, or mouth. If you get it on your skin, wash with soap and water. If you get it in your eyes, rinse with plain water.

What do I do if I miss a dose?

• Take a missed dose as soon as you think about it, with food.
• If it is close to the time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your normal time.
• Do not take 2 doses at the same time or extra doses.

WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:

• Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Signs of infection like fever, chills, very bad sore throat, ear or sinus pain, cough, more sputum or change in color of sputum, pain with passing urine, mouth sores, or wound that will not heal.
• Signs of bleeding like throwing up blood or throw up that looks like coffee grounds; coughing up blood; blood in the urine; black, red, or tarry stools; bleeding from the gums; vaginal bleeding that is not normal; bruises without a reason or that get bigger; or any bleeding that is very bad or that you cannot stop.
• Signs of kidney problems like unable to pass urine, change in how much urine is passed, blood in the urine, or a big weight gain.
• Signs of a urinary tract infection (UTI) like blood in the urine, burning or pain when passing urine, feeling the need to pass urine often or right away, fever, lower stomach pain, or pelvic pain.
• Signs of electrolyte problems like mood changes, confusion, muscle pain or weakness, a heartbeat that does not feel normal, seizures, not hungry, or very bad upset stomach or throwing up.
• Feeling very tired or weak.
• Dark urine or yellow skin or eyes.
• Shakiness.
• Low mood (depression).
• A burning, numbness, or tingling feeling that is not normal.
• Very bad dizziness or passing out.
• Swelling in the arms or legs.
• Swelling of belly.
• Change in eyesight, eye pain, or very bad eye irritation.
• Shortness of breath.
• Night sweats.

If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.