INTRODUCTION

FERAVIR 400 TABLET contains Favipiravir which belongs to the group of medicines called Antiviral drugs. It is used to treat patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 disease, which is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes short-term, mild upper respiratory infection (common cold) associated with symptoms such as nasal obstruction, sneezing, runny nose and sometimes cough.

Prior to treatment with FERAVIR 400 TABLET, your doctor may want you to take several tests to understand your existing condition.

Before taking FERAVIR 400 TABLET, inform your doctor if you have gout. FERAVIR 400 TABLET is not recommended for use if you are allergic to Favipiravir or have severe liver or kidney impairment.

FERAVIR 400 TABLET is not recommended for use in pregnant and breastfeeding women, also it is not recommended for use in children and adolescents (aged below 18 years). It should be used with caution in elderly patients (aged 65 years or above).

The most common side effects of taking FERAVIR 400 TABLET is diarrhoea. Consult your doctor if your symptom worsens.

USES OF FERAVIR 400 TABLET

• Treats mild to moderate COVID-19 disease

HOW FERAVIR 400 TABLET WORKS

FERAVIR 400 TABLET works by blocking the SARS-CoV-2 virus from multiplying which results in decreased viral load in the body thereby restricting the spread of infection and enhancing the recovery process from short-term, mild upper respiratory infections.

DIRECTIONS FOR USE

Take FERAVIR 400 TABLET as advised by your physician. Swallow the medicine with a glass of water. Do not crush or chew the medicine. Your doctor will decide the correct dose and duration for you depending upon your age, body weight and disease condition.

SIDE EFFECTS OF FERAVIR 400 TABLET

HOW TO MANAGE SIDE EFFECTS

Diarrhoea:

Drink lot of fluids such as water or fruit juice to keep yourself hydrated. Do not take any medicine on your own to treat diarrhea without consulting your doctor.

Nausea and vomiting:

Try to take FERAVIR 400 TABLET with or just after a meal or a snack. Stick to simple meals. Avoid eating oil rich or spicy foods. Consult your doctor if the symptom gets worse.

Stomach pain:

Try to take rest and relax. Eat and drink slowly or try to have smaller and frequent meals. Keep a heat pad on your stomach. If the symptom does not improve, consult your doctor.

WARNING & PRECAUTIONS

PREGNANCY

FERAVIR 400 TABLET is not recommended for use in pregnant women. Consult your doctor before taking FERAVIR 400 TABLET.

BREASTFEEDING

FERAVIR 400 TABLET is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women. Consult your doctor before taking FERAVIR 400 TABLET.

DRIVING AND USING MACHINES

Do not drive or operate any machines if your ability to concentrate or reaction is impaired due to side effects such as abnormal behavior or psychiatric symptoms after taking FERAVIR 400 TABLET.

KIDNEY

FERAVIR 400 TABLET is not recommended for use in patients with severe kidney impairment (kidney failure). Consult your doctor before taking FERAVIR 400 TABLET.

LIVER

FERAVIR 400 TABLET is not recommended for use in patients with severe liver impairment (liver failure). Consult your doctor before taking FERAVIR 400 TABLET.

ALLERGY

Do not take FERAVIR 400 TABLET if you are allergic to Favipiravir or any other ingredients of this medicine.

INTERACTIONS

A. Drug-Drug interactions:

Before taking FERAVIR 400 TABLET, inform your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

• pyrazinamide (used to treat tuberculosis)
• famciclovir (antiviral medicine used to treat shingles)
• sulindac (medicine used to treat mild to moderate pain and help relieve symptoms of joint pain) 
• theophylline (used to treat chronic pulmonary obstructive disease)
• oseltamivir (used to treat flu)
• raloxifene (used to treat osteoporosis)
• hydralazine (used in high blood pressure)
• acetaminophen (used to relieve pain and inflammation)
• medicines used to prevent pregnancy (Ex. norethindrone, ethinyl estradiol)
• repaglinide (used to treat high blood sugar)

Overdosage:

If you or anyone else accidentally take too much of FERAVIR 400 TABLET, consult your doctor immediately or visit the nearby hospital.

SYNOPSIS

MORE INFORMATION

• Keep FERAVIR 400 TABLET out of reach of children
• Store below 30°C

FAQs ABOUT FERAVIR 400 TABLET

Is FERAVIR 400 TABLET safe to be used in children?

No, FERAVIR 400 TABLET is not recommended for use in children and adolescents. If FERAVIR 400 TABLET is accidentally ingested by a child or adolescent, take the child to hospital immediately and consult the doctor for further management.

Does FERAVIR 400 TABLET affect sperms?

FERAVIR 400 TABLET passes into the semen. Men must wear a condom during sexual intercourse during treatment with this medicine and up to 7 days after the completion of treatment. Ask your doctor if you have any more doubts.

Can FERAVIR 400 TABLET cause diarrhea?

Yes, if you experience diarrhea while taking FERAVIR 400 TABLET, drink lot of fluids such as water or fruit juice to keep yourself hydrated. Do not take any medicine on your own to treat diarrhea without consulting your doctor. Tell your doctor if you have continuous diarrhoea.

Can I get pregnant during treatment with FERAVIR 400 TABLET?

FERAVIR 400 TABLET is not recommended for use during pregnancy, so avoid planning for pregnancy during treatment with this medicine. Ensure implementation of extremely effective contraceptive methods during treatment and for 7 days after the completion of treatment. Discuss contraceptive methods with your doctor.

What precautions do I need to follow while taking FERAVIR 400 TABLET?

Patients taking FERAVIR 400 TABLET must inform their doctor about their pre-existing disease conditions like kidney, liver or heart problems. Patients should also inform if they are pregnant, breast-feeding, having any allergies or gout. Consult your doctor before taking FERAVIR 400 TABLET.

REFERENCES

1. Shailendra K. Saxena. Current insight into the Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Edition 2020. Page – 1, 2, 4, 5 & 112. https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Coronavirus_Disease_2019_COVID_19/qovgDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0

2. Yousuke Furuta, Takashi Komeno, and Takaaki Nakamura. Favipiravir (T-705), a broad-spectrum inhibitor of viral RNA polymerase.  NIH National Library of Medicine, National center for biotechnology information. PMC Pubmed Central. August 2017 [Accessed on 9th June 2022] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5713175/

3. Henrietta Papp, Zsofia Lanszki, Gyorgy M. Keseru, and Ferenc Jakab. Favipiravir for the treatment of COVID-19 in elderly patients—what do we know after 2 years of COVID-19. NIH National Library of Medicine, National center for biotechnology information. PMC Pubmed Central. May 2022 [Accessed on 9th June 2022] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9091543/

4. Cipla Ltd. Ciplenza Tablets. Favipiravir. Ciplamed [Revised in November 2020] [Accessed on 9th June 2022] https://www.ciplamed.com/content/ciplenza-tablets

USEFUL DIAGNOSTIC TESTS

• RT-PCR test
• Antigen test

AUTHOR DETAILS

Written By Dr. R. Dinesh John Rajkumar, Pharm.D
Last updated on 24 Nov 2022 | 02:55 PM(IST)