This medication is used to prevent disease caused by a
virus called cytomegalovirus (CMV) in people who have received a bone
marrow transplant or kidney transplant. CMV disease can cause serious
infections, including an infection in the eye, called CMV retinitis, that
can cause blindness. Letermovir is an anti-viral drug. It works by stopping
the growth of the virus.
Read the Patient Information Leaflet and Instructions
for Use if available from your pharmacist before you start taking
letermovir and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, ask
your doctor or pharmacist.
Take this medication by mouth with or without food, as
directed by your doctor, usually once daily. The dosage is based on your
medical condition, response to treatment, and other medications you may be
taking. Children's dosage is also based on weight. Be sure to tell your
doctor and pharmacist about all the products you use (including
prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal
products).
If you are taking the tablets, swallow the tablets
whole. Do not crush or chew the tablets.
If you are taking the pellet form of this medication,
open the packet(s) and mix the entire contents of each packet with 1 to 3
teaspoons (5 to 15 milliliters) of soft food (such as applesauce, yogurt,
pudding) that is at or below room temperature. Do not use hot food. Take
the entire mixture right away. Do not crush or chew the pellets. If you are
unable to take the pellets mixed with soft food within 10 minutes, throw it
away and prepare a new dose.
The pellet form of this medication may also be given
through a feeding tube. If you are giving this medication through a feeding
tube, ask your health care professional for detailed instructions on how to
properly mix and give it.
For the best effect, take this medication at evenly
spaced times. To help you remember, take this medication at the same time
every day.
Continue to take this medication until the full
prescribed amount is finished. Stopping the medication too early may result
in an infection.
Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, swelling ankles/feet, cough,
or headache may occur. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your
doctor or pharmacist promptly.
Remember that this medication has been prescribed
because your doctor has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the
risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious
side effects.
Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side
effects, including:
A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare.
However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a
serious allergic reaction, including:
- rash
- itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat)
- severe dizziness
- trouble breathing
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If
you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or
pharmacist.
In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at
www.fda.gov/medwatch.
In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about
side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at
1-866-234-2345.
Before taking letermovir, tell your doctor or pharmacist
if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product
may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or
other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or
pharmacist your medical history, especially of:
- kidney disease
- liver disease
Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about
all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription
drugs, and herbal products).
During pregnancy, this medication should be used only
when clearly needed. Discuss the risks and benefits with your
doctor.
It is unknown if this drug passes into breast milk.
Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.
Drug interactions may change how your medications work
or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not
contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you
use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and
share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the
dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval.
This medication can slow down the removal of other
medications from your body, which may affect how they work. Examples of
affected drugs include asunaprevir, elacestrant, elagolix,
elbasvir/grazoprevir, ergot alkaloids (such as ergotamine,
dihydroergotamine), flibanserin, lomitapide, pimozide, certain statin drugs
(such as pitavastatin, simvastatin), tovorafenib, among
others.
Other medications can affect the removal of letermovir
from your body, which may affect how letermovir works. Examples include
bosentan, certain HIV NNRTIs (such as efavirenz, etravirine, nevirapine),
nafcillin, rifamycins (such as rifabutin, rifampin), St. John's wort,
thioridazine, drugs used to treat seizures (such as carbamazepine,
phenytoin), among others.
If someone has overdosed and has serious symptoms such
as passing out or trouble breathing, call 911. Otherwise, call a poison
control center right away. US residents can call 1-800-222-1222. Canada
residents can call 1-844-764-7669.
Do not share this medication with others.
This medication has been prescribed for your current
condition only. Do not use it later to prevent another infection unless
your doctor tells you to.
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If
it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose. Take your next
dose at the regular time. Do not double the dose to catch
up.
Store in the original package at room temperature away
from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medications
away from children and pets.
Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them
into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when
it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste
disposal company.
