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The information below is provided by Novartis Consumer Health, Inc. As the application of any information varies from patient to patient, you are encouraged to consult your health care provider regarding the efficacy and safety of Denavir® (penciclovir cream). Your health care provider will be able to place the information in the appropriate perspective for you. What is Denavir® used for? Denavir® is a topical antiviral medication used for recurrent cold sores (herpes labialis) on the lips and face in otherwise healthy adult patients. Can Denavir® be used for sores inside the mouth? Denavir® is a topical cream that is applied externally on the lips and face. It is not indicated for internal use on mucous membranes inside the mouth, nose, genital or rectal areas. Is Denavir® a prescription product or can it be obtained over the counter? Denavir® is available by prescription only. Talk to your physician or dentist to discuss if Denavir® may benefit you. Where can I find Prescribing Information? Click here to view complete prescribing information. How is Denavir® applied? Apply Denavir® every two hours during waking hours for four days to your cold sore with your finger or a cotton swab. Wash hands with soap and water to prevent it from coming into contact with your eyes or other areas to prevent irritation and to prevent spread of the herpes virus. How well does Denavir® work? Denavir® has been shown to heal cold sores on average in four and a half days. It has also been shown to reduce the lesion pain by about one-half-day when compared to placebo. However, always consult with your physician or dentist for information on your particular situation. Will Denavir® work better if used for longer than 4 days? In clinical trials, Denavir® was applied every two hours while the patients were awake, for 4 days. The safety and efficacy of Denavir® beyond four days has not been established at this time. How does Denavir® work (mechanism of action)? After applying Denavir® to a cold sore, the active ingredient, penciclovir, penetrates into the infected cells to block the synthesis and replication of the virus that causes the cold sore. For more information about Denavir®, please refer to the prescribing information. For professionals: Denavir® was generally well tolerated in all clinical trials -- the most frequently reported adverse events with Denavir® and placebo in the pivotal trials, respectively, were headache (5.3% vs 5.8%) and application site reaction (1.3% vs 1.8%). In the most recent trial the adverse events were no different. For consumers: Some dry, flaky skin may remain. In clinical studies, a few people experienced headaches and redness. |
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Copyright 2003 © Novartis Consumer Health Inc. All Rights Reserved. Your use of this website is subject to the terms of our Legal Statement and Privacy Policy. The product information contained in this site is intended for residents of the United States only. For more information on Novartis and other Novartis products, see Novartis.com. Last Updated: Tuesday, November 18, 2003 |