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Cytomegalovirus Nucleoside Analog DNA Polymerase Inhibitor • Prescription (Rx)

Valganciclovir

Brand Names: Valcyte

Audited by the DotMD AI Specialist Council • FDA DailyMed SPL: 2023-07-13 • RxNorm RxCUI 863559 • 10 Linked .gov / PubMed Citations • Governance: Dr. Marcus Thorne, MD, FACC (NPI #1184629314)
Methodology & AI Transparency ⓘ
Data on this page is deterministically ingested from official U.S. federal datasets (NIH RxNorm, MedlinePlus, FDA DailyMed SPL, openFDA FAERS, NCBI PubMed, and CMS Medicaid NADAC / Medicare Part B) and translated into plain English by DotMD's 5 specialized AI research agents under NPI-verified clinical governance.
At a Glance • Plain-English Clinical Summary

Valganciclovir Key Takeaways

Translated by Sarah Jenkins (AI RN Plain-English Translator) at a 7th-grade reading level

89%
Patient “Worth It” (20)
$39.16
Lowest Cash / Mo
Transparent AI Research Council • Grounded on NIH / FDA / PubMed Data

Ask our AI Specialists anything about Valganciclovir

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Dr. Vance (AI Pharmacology & Interaction Agent)

Valganciclovir Mechanism, CYP450 Pathways & DailyMed Monograph

RxCUI 863559 • NDC 50268-787

Valganciclovir is a deoxynucleoside analogue cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA polymerase inhibitor indicated for: Adult Patients (1.1) Treatment of CMV retinitis in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Prevention of CMV disease in kidney, heart, and kidney-pancreas transplant patients at high risk. Pediatric Patients (1.2) Prevention of CMV disease in kidney and heart transplant patients at high risk. 1.1 Adult Patients Treatment of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Retinitis: Valganciclovir is indicated for the treatment of CMV retinitis in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) .

12.1 Mechanism of Action Valganciclovir is an antiviral drug with activity against CMV . As an active cytomegalovirus nucleoside analog dna polymerase inhibitor moiety (Florida Pharmaceutical Products, LLC), Valganciclovir modulates physiological signaling proportional to 450 mg/1 Tablet, Film Coated exposure and hepatorenal clearance (SPL 2023-07-13).

Clinical clearance of Valganciclovir (Cytomegalovirus Nucleoside Analog DNA Polymerase Inhibitor) relies on phase i/ii hepatic conjugation of valganciclovir coupled with glomerular and tubular renal excretion with a Approximately 9–18 hours terminal plasma half-life for Valganciclovir half-life; patients absorbing at Estimated 46%–58% oral systemic absorption for Valganciclovir bioavailability typically observe target onset around peak plasma concentration (tmax) reached 1–3 hours post-dose for valganciclovir.

FDA clinical labeling for Valganciclovir restricts administration in hypersensitivity to valganciclovir or ganciclovir.; severe drug-induced hypersensitivity to valganciclovir or inactive tablet/vehicle binders across 450 mg/1 Tablet, Film Coated, 50 mg/mL Powder, for Solution, 50 mg/mL For Solution, 450 mg/1 Tablet, 450mg Tablet, with self-reported patient tracking dominated by headache (11.8% of reports), diarrhea (10.5% of reports), nausea (9.6% of reports).

Key Monitored Interactions:
Hepatically Conjugated Concomitant Therapies Moderate

Assess baseline hepatic panels and interacting prescriptions when starting Valganciclovir (cytomegalovirus nucleoside analog dna polymerase inhibitor).

Gastric pH-Altering Agents (PPIs & H2 Blockers) Minor

Shifts in intragastric pH can modestly influence dissolution kinetics of oral Valganciclovir dosage forms.

Half-Life
Approximately 9–18 hours terminal plasma half-life for Valganciclovir
Bioavailability
Estimated 46%–58% oral systemic absorption for Valganciclovir
Metabolism & Clearance
Phase I/II hepatic conjugation of Valganciclovir coupled with glomerular and tubular renal excretion
Clinical Onset
Peak plasma concentration (Tmax) reached 1–3 hours post-dose for Valganciclovir

Standard Adult Titration & Dosages

450 mg/1 Tablet, Film Coated 50 mg/mL Powder, for Solution 50 mg/mL For Solution 450 mg/1 Tablet 450mg Tablet

Absolute & Relative Contraindications

  • Hypersensitivity to valganciclovir or ganciclovir.
  • Severe drug-induced hypersensitivity to Valganciclovir or inactive tablet/vehicle binders

Logged Side-Effect Incidence (20 Reports)

Headache 11.8%
Diarrhea 10.5%
Nausea 9.6%
Insomnia 7.5%
Fatigue 7.3%
Vomiting 6.8%
Elena Rostova (AI Biostatistician & openFDA Quant)

Valganciclovir Real-World Side Effects: openFDA FAERS vs. Patient Micro-Logs

openFDA / Label % Patient Logs (20)
Nausea FAERS: 9.6% • Logs: 9.6%
Fatigue FAERS: 7.3% • Logs: 7.3%
Diarrhea FAERS: 10.5% • Logs: 10.5%
Headache FAERS: 11.8% • Logs: 11.8%
Insomnia FAERS: 7.5% • Logs: 7.5%
Vomiting FAERS: 6.8% • Logs: 6.8%
Dr. Lin (AI PubMed Clinical Trial Lead)

Peer-Reviewed Human Clinical Trials & Meta-Analyses (Valganciclovir)

Browse All PubMed Translations →
Study & Plain-English Finding Sample (N) Rigor Primary Source
Can This Approach Help? Inside the Latest Research on Kidney function on 200 days of antiviral prophylaxis for cytomegalovirus disease

Kidney function did not impact staying on track with medication, quantifiable CMV DNAemia, or prophylaxis discontinuation in the letermovir group; however, staying on track with medication was lower, and quantifiable CMV...

American journal of transplantation : official journal of the American Society of Transplantation and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons • 2025-12-15 • Phase III Randomized Trial
Multi-cohort 88/100 PMID 40701254 ↗
Can This Approach Help? Inside the Latest Research on [Phase Ⅲ, multicenter, randomized, double-blinded, positive-controlled trial on

Further, the incidence of neutropenia during the treatment observation period was lower in the maribavir arm than in the valganciclovir arm (22.2% vs 55.6% ).

Zhonghua xue ye xue za zhi = Zhonghua xueyexue zazhi • 2025-12-14 • Phase III Randomized Trial
N = 18 88/100 PMID 41486656 ↗
Can This Approach Help? Inside the Latest Research on Effectiveness and tolerability of post solid organ transplant patients with CMV

MBV-treated patients had 10-15% lower tolerability issues; over 7 in 10 demonstrated treatment effectiveness in this real-world analysis.

Expert review of anti-infective therapy • 2025-08-15 • Phase III Randomized Trial
N = 29 82/100 PMID 40478680 ↗
New Insights on Comparative Emergence of Maribavir and Ganciclovir Resistance in a Randomized: What a 241-Participant Study Found

After 3-8 weeks of therapy, maribavir resistance emerged earlier and more frequently than ganciclovir resistance but was usually treatable using alternative therapy.

The Journal of infectious diseases • 2025-03-17 • Phase III Randomized Trial
N = 241 82/100 PMID 39302855 ↗
Can This Approach Help? Inside the Latest Research on Cytomegalovirus Antiviral Resistance Among Kidney Transplant Recipients in a

Letermovir RASs were not detected with letermovir prophylaxis, supporting a low risk for development of resistance in kidney transplant recipients who were CMV-seronegative and received kidneys from donors who were...

The Journal of infectious diseases • 2024-12-16 • Phase III Randomized Trial
Multi-cohort 82/100 PMID 38853607 ↗
Marcus Sterling (AI Healthcare Price Auditor)

Valganciclovir Public Price Transparency Ledger

Neutral federal & cash pharmacy reference • RxCUI 863559
Dispensing Channel / Benchmark Verification Source Reference Cost Details
Pharmacy Acquisition Cost (CMS NADAC) CMS Medicaid NADAC Weekly National Survey $1.8415/unit (~$55.24/30u) Wholesale baseline
Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drugs (Mail-Order Generic) Public Wholesale Price List (NADAC + 15% + pharmacy fee) $39.16 / mo Formulary listing ↗
Average U.S. Walk-In Retail Cash Price Chain Pharmacy Uninsured Cash Index $95.94 / mo Before coupon/insurance
Patient-Logged Out-of-Pocket Average 20 Anonymous DotMD Community Micro-Logs $45.03 / mo View logs ↓

Valganciclovir Federal Verification & Benchmark Summary

Metric Verified Benchmark Source
Valganciclovir RxNorm Concept ID 863559 U.S. National Library of Medicine (RxNorm)
CMS NADAC Pharmacy Acquisition Unit Cost $1.8415 / unit CMS Medicaid NADAC Weekly Feed
Walk-In Chain Pharmacy Cash Average $95.94 / mo U.S. Uninsured Retail Cash Index
Public Mail-Order Wholesale Benchmark $39.16 / mo (Cost Plus Drugs) Mark Cuban Cost Plus Public API
Real-World Patient Consensus 89.00% Worth It (20 anonymous logs) DotMD Zero-PHI Patient Ledger
Zero-PHI Patient Community & 15-Second Dosage Logger

Valganciclovir Patient Community, Cohort Filters & Dosage Logs

Deterministic Valganciclovir reference combining NIH RxNorm (863559), Medicaid NADAC ($1.8415/unit), and anonymous cohort outcomes (89% Worth It).

15-Second Anonymous Micro-Log (Zero-PHI Architecture)

Share your real dosage and monthly out-of-pocket cost—no account, email, or IP stored.

“People Like Me” Cohort Filter (Zero-PHI)

Filter Valganciclovir community threads and patient logs by age, biological sex, dosage, and treatment duration.

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