About letermovir
Antiviral; CMV terminase complex inhibitor
Used for
- Prevention of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and disease after certain stem-cell transplants.
- Prevention of CMV disease in high-risk kidney transplant recipients.
Usual adult dose
480 mg once daily; reduce to 240 mg once daily with ciclosporin. Treatment duration depends on transplant type.
Usual dose in children
For children weighing at least 5 kg after stem-cell transplant: 6 mg/kg once daily, maximum 480 mg; reduce with ciclosporin. Not established for kidney transplant prevention.
Common side effects
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Swelling of the hands or feet
Important warnings
- Not a treatment for active CMV disease.
- Check for interactions before starting, stopping, or changing other medicines.
- Ciclosporin requires dose adjustment; letermovir can affect levels of several medicines.
- The intravenous form can cause infusion-site reactions.
Pregnancy
Human pregnancy information is limited; use only when clearly needed after weighing benefits and risks.
Breastfeeding
It is not known whether letermovir passes into breast milk; effects on nursing infants are uncertain.
Interactions
- Ciclosporin increases letermovir exposure and requires letermovir dose reduction.
- May raise tacrolimus, sirolimus, or everolimus levels; monitoring and dose changes may be needed.
- Rifampin and rifabutin can reduce letermovir levels; avoid use together.
- Can reduce levels of voriconazole and some statins; interaction checks are important.
AI-generated from general medical knowledge, not from this product's official leaflet. It may be incomplete or out of date. Not medical advice — ask a pharmacist or doctor before making any decision.