Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Book

Foscarnet

Sriram Garikapati  1 , Minhthao Nguyen  2
In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan.
.
Affiliations
Free Books & Documents
Book

Foscarnet

Sriram Garikapati et al.
Free Books & Documents

Excerpt

Foscarnet is an antiviral agent used to treat cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex virus (HSV), and varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infections, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. Foscarnet is typically reserved for viral strains for which first-line treatments may be less effective. This activity examines the drug's mechanism of action, contraindications, adverse effects, and the FDA's boxed warnings. Pharmacokinetic properties and drug interactions will also be reviewed, providing essential knowledge for adjusting dosages to minimize adverse effects.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: Sriram Garikapati declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Disclosure: Minhthao Nguyen declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

References

    1. Razonable RR. Antiviral drugs for viruses other than human immunodeficiency virus. Mayo Clin Proc. 2011 Oct;86(10):1009-26. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Piperi E, Papadopoulou E, Georgaki M, Dovrat S, Bar Illan M, Nikitakis NG, Yarom N. Management of oral herpes simplex virus infections: The problem of resistance. A narrative review. Oral Dis. 2024 Apr;30(3):877-894. - PubMed
    1. Wagstaff AJ, Bryson HM. Foscarnet. A reappraisal of its antiviral activity, pharmacokinetic properties and therapeutic use in immunocompromised patients with viral infections. Drugs. 1994 Aug;48(2):199-226. - PubMed
    1. Sallée L, Boutolleau D. Management of Refractory/Resistant Herpes Simplex Virus Infections in Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Recipients: A Literature Review. Rev Med Virol. 2024 Sep;34(5):e2574. - PubMed
    1. Tan BH. Cytomegalovirus Treatment. Curr Treat Options Infect Dis. 2014;6(3):256-270. - PMC - PubMed

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources