Zirgan

What is Zirgan?

• Zirgan (Ganciclovir) is a topical ophthalmic antiviral used for the treatment of acute herpetic keratitis (dendritic ulcers).

Ganciclovir

Ganciclovir ball-and-stick

What are the uses of this medicine?

• Zirgan (Ganciclovir) for the treatment of acute herpetic keratitis (dendritic ulcers).

How does this medicine work?

Zirgan (Ganciclovir), which is a guanosine derivative that, upon phosphorylation, inhibits DNA replication by herpes simplex viruses (HSV). Ganciclovir is transformed by viral and cellular thymidine kinases (TK) to ganciclovir triphosphate, which works as an antiviral agent by inhibiting the synthesis of viral DNA in 2 ways: competitive inhibition of viral DNA-polymerase and direct incorporation into viral primer strand DNA, resulting in DNA chain termination and prevention of replication.

Who Should Not Use this medicine ?

• This medicine have no usage limitations.

What drug interactions can this medicine cause?

• No formal drug interaction studies have been conducted with Zirgan .

Is this medicine FDA approved?

• Ganciclovir was approved for use in the United States in 1994.

How should this medicine be used?

Recommended dosage:

• The recommended dosing regimen for ZIRGAN is 1 drop in the affected eye 5 times per day (approximately every 3 hours while awake) until the corneal ulcer heals, and then 1 drop 3 times per day for 7 days.

Administration:

• ZIRGAN is indicated for topical ophthalmic use only.
• Patients should be advised not to allow the dropper tip to touch any surface, as this may contaminate the gel.
• Patients should not wear contact lenses if they have signs or symptoms of herpetic keratitis or during the course of therapy with ZIRGAN.

What are the dosage forms and brand names of this medicine?

This medicine is available in fallowing doasage form:

• As ZIRGAN contains 0.15% of ganciclovir in a sterile preserved topical ophthalmic gel.

This medicine is available in fallowing brand namesː

• ZIRGAN

What side effects can this medication cause?

The most common side effects of this medicine include:

• blurred vision
• eye irritation
• punctate keratitis
• conjunctival hyperemia

What special precautions should I follow?

• ZIRGAN is indicated for topical ophthalmic use only.
• Patients should not wear contact lenses if they have signs or symptoms of herpetic keratitis or during the course of therapy with ZIRGAN.
• Patients should be advised not to allow the dropper tip to touch any surface, as this may contaminate the gel. If pain develops, or if redness, itching, or inflammation becomes aggravated, the patient should be advised to consult a physician.

What to do in case of emergency/overdose?

• In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline of your country. In the United States, call 1-800-222-1222.

• Overdose related information is also available online at poisonhelp.org/help.
• In the event that the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can't be awakened, immediately call emergency services. In the United States, call 911.

Can this medicine be used in pregnancy?

• There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.
• ZIRGAN should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.

Can this medicine be used in children?

• Safety and efficacy in pediatric patients below the age of 2 years have not been established.

What are the active and inactive ingredients in this medicine?

Active Ingredient:

• GANCICLOVIR

Inactive Ingredients:

• CARBOMER HOMOPOLYMER TYPE B
• BENZALKONIUM CHLORIDE
• MANNITOL
• WATER (UNII: 059QF0KO0R)
• SODIUM HYDROXIDE

Who manufactures and distributes this medicine?

• Zirgan is a trademark of Laboratoires Théa Corporation used under license.

Distributed by:

• Bausch + Lomb, a division of
• Bausch Health US, LLC
• Bridgewater, NJ USA

What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication?

• Store at 15° to 25°C (59° to 77°F).
• Do not freeze.

• Dailymed label info on Zirgan
• FDA Zirgan