Drugs List

Therapeutic Indications

Uses

Management of mucocutaneous infections due to herpes simplex virus (HSV-1 or HSV-2)

Management of genital warts (adjunctive treatment to podophyllin or carbon dioxide laser)

Management of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE)

Contraindications

Pregnancy - see Pregnancy section
Breastfeeding - see Lactation section.
Children under 18 years old

Precautions and Warnings

Inosine is metabolised to uric acid and should be used with caution in patients with the following conditions:
Renal impairment
Hyperuricaemia
History of gout

Pregnancy and Lactation

Pregnancy

Inosine acedoben dimepranol should be avoided where pregnancy is suspected or confirmed.

There are no data, at the time of writing, on the use of inosine acedoben dimepranol during human pregnancy.

Animal tests have shown no teratogenic effect.

The use of all medication in pregnancy should be avoided whenever possible; particularly in the first trimester. Non-drug treatments should also be considered. When essential, a medication with the best safety record over time should be chosen, employing the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time. Polypharmacy should be avoided. Teratogens taken in the pre-embryonic period, often quoted as lasting until 14-17 days post-conception, are believed to have an all-or-nothing effect. Where drugs have a short half-life, and when the date of conception is certain, this may allow women to be reassured where drug exposure has occurred within this time frame. Further advice may be available from the UK National Teratology Information Service (NTIS) and through ToxBase, available via password on the internet ( www.toxbase.org ) or if this is unavailable at the backup site ( www.toxbasebackup.org ).

Lactation

Inosine should not be administered during lactation unless the physician decides that the benefits of therapy outweigh the potential risks.

It is not known if inosine is excreted in human milk.

Neonates, infants born prematurely, those with low birth weight, those with an unstable gastrointestinal function or who have serious illnesses may require special consideration. For any infant, if a drug is prescribed to the nursing mother, it should be at the lowest practical dose and for the shortest time. When drug administration is unavoidable and breastfeeding is to continue, minimisation of exposure of the infant to the drug may sometimes be achieved by timing the maternal doses to just after a feeding episode. Infants exposed to drugs via breast milk should be monitored for unusual signs or symptoms. Interactions between the drug received by the infant from the mother's milk and medication prescribed for the infant should also be considered, for example, when the drug given to the infant may prevent metabolism of the drug received via breast milk.
Specialist advice is available from the UK Drugs in Lactation Advisory Service at https://www.midlandsmedicines.nhs.uk/content.asp?section=6&subsection=17&pageIdx=1

Side Effects

Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhoea
Constipation
Epigastric discomfort
Increase of liver transaminases
Increase in alkaline phosphatase
Increase in blood urea nitrogen
Hyperuricaemia
Polyuria
Itching
Rash
Headache
Vertigo
Fatigue
Nervousness
Drowsiness
Insomnia
Malaise
Arthralgia
Hyperuricosuria
Anxiety

Drugs List

Therapeutic Indications

Uses

Management of mucocutaneous infections due to herpes simplex virus (HSV-1 or HSV-2)

Management of genital warts (adjunctive treatment to podophyllin or carbon dioxide laser)

Management of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE)

Dosage

Adults

Elderly

Children

Patients with Renal Impairment

Contraindications

Pregnancy - see Pregnancy section
Breastfeeding - see Lactation section.
Children under 18 years old

Precautions and Warnings

Inosine is metabolised to uric acid and should be used with caution in patients with the following conditions:
Renal impairment
Hyperuricaemia
History of gout

Pregnancy and Lactation

Pregnancy

Inosine acedoben dimepranol should be avoided where pregnancy is suspected or confirmed.

There are no data, at the time of writing, on the use of inosine acedoben dimepranol during human pregnancy.

Animal tests have shown no teratogenic effect.

The use of all medication in pregnancy should be avoided whenever possible; particularly in the first trimester. Non-drug treatments should also be considered. When essential, a medication with the best safety record over time should be chosen, employing the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time. Polypharmacy should be avoided. Teratogens taken in the pre-embryonic period, often quoted as lasting until 14-17 days post-conception, are believed to have an all-or-nothing effect. Where drugs have a short half-life, and when the date of conception is certain, this may allow women to be reassured where drug exposure has occurred within this time frame. Further advice may be available from the UK National Teratology Information Service (NTIS) and through ToxBase, available via password on the internet ( www.toxbase.org ) or if this is unavailable at the backup site ( www.toxbasebackup.org ).

Lactation

Inosine should not be administered during lactation unless the physician decides that the benefits of therapy outweigh the potential risks.

It is not known if inosine is excreted in human milk.

Neonates, infants born prematurely, those with low birth weight, those with an unstable gastrointestinal function or who have serious illnesses may require special consideration. For any infant, if a drug is prescribed to the nursing mother, it should be at the lowest practical dose and for the shortest time. When drug administration is unavoidable and breastfeeding is to continue, minimisation of exposure of the infant to the drug may sometimes be achieved by timing the maternal doses to just after a feeding episode. Infants exposed to drugs via breast milk should be monitored for unusual signs or symptoms. Interactions between the drug received by the infant from the mother's milk and medication prescribed for the infant should also be considered, for example, when the drug given to the infant may prevent metabolism of the drug received via breast milk.
Specialist advice is available from the UK Drugs in Lactation Advisory Service at https://www.midlandsmedicines.nhs.uk/content.asp?section=6&subsection=17&pageIdx=1

Effects on Ability to Drive and Operate Machinery

There are no effects on the ability to drive or operate machinery.

Side Effects

Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhoea
Constipation
Epigastric discomfort
Increase of liver transaminases
Increase in alkaline phosphatase
Increase in blood urea nitrogen
Hyperuricaemia
Polyuria
Itching
Rash
Headache
Vertigo
Fatigue
Nervousness
Drowsiness
Insomnia
Malaise
Arthralgia
Hyperuricosuria
Anxiety

Overdosage

It is strongly recommended that the UK National Poisons Information Service be consulted on cases of suspected or actual overdose where there is doubt over the degree of risk or about appropriate management.

The following number will direct the caller to the relevant local centre (0844) 892 0111

Information may be obtained if you have access to ToxBase the primary clinical toxicology database of the National Poisons Information Service. This is available via password on the internet ( www.toxbase.org ) or if this is unavailable at the backup site ( www.toxbasebackup.org ).

Shelf Life and Storage

No special requirements

Reference Sources

British National Formulary, 63rd Edition (2012) Pharmaceutical Press, London.

Drugs During Pregnancy and Lactation: Treatment Options and Risk Assessment, 2nd edition (2007) ed. Schaefer, C., Peters, P. and Miller, R. Elsevier, London.

Summary of Product Characteristics: Imunovir. Newport Pharmaceuticals Limited. Revised January 2011.