Livtencity (Maribavir)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Livtencity Used For?
Livtencity is an antiviral prescription medicine specifically designed to treat adults who have received an organ or bone marrow transplant and developed a CMV (cytomegalovirus) infection.
Primary Uses
Livtencity is used to treat CMV infection and disease in adults who are resistant, refractory, or intolerant to one or more prior therapies. It’s specifically for patients who have had organ or bone marrow transplants.
How It Works
CMV is a common virus that typically doesn’t cause symptoms in healthy people. However, when your immune system is weakened after a transplant, you may be at high risk of becoming ill from CMV. Livtencity works as an antiviral medication to help fight this infection.
Good to know: This medicine is new and under additional monitoring to quickly identify any new safety information.
How to Take Livtencity
Livtencity should be taken exactly as prescribed by your healthcare provider. The medication can be taken with or without food and offers flexible administration options.
Dosage Instructions
The recommended dose is 400 mg twice daily (two 200 mg tablets in the morning and two 200 mg tablets in the evening). You can take the tablets whole, crushed, or dispersed in water. For tube feeding, specific mixing instructions are provided using 30 mL of drinking water per 400 mg dose.
What If You Miss a Dose?
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. It’s important not to miss or skip doses.
Important: Never take a double dose to make up for a missed dose. Take tablets regularly at the same time each day.
Available Tablet Strengths
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- changes in taste
- nausea or feeling sick
- diarrhea
- vomiting
- anemia (low red blood cells causing tiredness or pale appearance)
- tiredness
- fever or high temperature
- headache
- loss of appetite
- weight loss
- stomach (upper abdominal) pain
- cramps or muscle weakness
- low levels of potassium or magnesium
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- low levels of white blood cells (symptoms may include high fever, severe chills, sore throat, or mouth ulcers)
- swelling of hands, ankles, or feet
- high blood pressure
- kidney problems (may cause changes in urination, swollen feet, feeling tired or weak, muscle cramps, back pain, drowsiness)
Important Warnings
Before taking Livtencity, it’s crucial to discuss your medical history and current medications with your healthcare provider.
Who Should Not Take Livtencity
Do not take Livtencity if you are allergic to maribavir or any ingredients in the medication. You should also not take it if you are currently using ganciclovir or valganciclovir.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor about any other medical conditions you have and all medicines you take. Special monitoring may be needed if you take cyclosporin, tacrolimus, sirolimus, or everolimus, as additional blood tests may be required to check blood levels of these medicines.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Check with your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. It is not known if Livtencity will harm your unborn baby or if it passes into breast milk.
Not for children: Livtencity is not for use in children and adolescents under 18 years old as it has not been tested in this age group.
Drug Interactions
Several medications may interfere with Livtencity and affect how it works. Always tell your healthcare provider about all medicines, vitamins, and supplements you take.
- cyclosporin, tacrolimus, sirolimus and everolimus (transplant rejection prevention)
- rifabutin, rifampicin (mycobacterial infections)
- St. John’s wort (herbal product)
- statins such as atorvastatin, fluvastatin, rosuvastatin, simvastatin (high cholesterol)
- carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin (seizures)
- antacids (aluminum and magnesium hydroxide)
- famotidine, omeprazole, pantoprazole (acid reducing medicines)
- digoxin (heart medicine)
- erythromycin (antibiotic)
- sulfasalazine (anti-inflammatory)
- ketoconazole and voriconazole (fungal infections)
- diltiazem (heart medicine)
- dextromethorphan (cough medicine)
- warfarin (anticoagulant)
- oral contraceptive steroids (birth control)
- midazolam (sedative)
Alcohol & Driving
Livtencity has specific guidelines regarding daily activities and lifestyle considerations.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Livtencity has no influence on your ability to drive or use machines, so you can continue these activities normally while taking this medication.
Storage
Store Livtencity below 30°C in a cool, dry place away from moisture, heat, or sunlight. Do not freeze the medication. Keep it away from bathrooms, sinks, cars, or windowsills. Store it where young children cannot reach it. Take any unwanted or expired medicine to a pharmacy for safe disposal.
Overdose Information
If you think you have taken too much Livtencity, immediately phone the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26), contact your doctor, or go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
Frequently Asked Questions
The source material doesn’t specify how long Livtencity takes to work. Your doctor will monitor your progress and determine the appropriate treatment duration based on your individual response to the medication.
Yes, Livtencity can be taken with or without food. You have the flexibility to take it according to your preference or schedule.
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Never take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
No, do not stop taking Livtencity suddenly, even if you feel better. You should continue taking it until your doctor tells you to stop. Always talk to your doctor before discontinuing the medication.
Yes, Livtencity tablets can be taken whole, crushed, or dispersed in water. They can also be given through nasogastric or feeding tubes following specific preparation instructions provided in the medication guide.
Many medications can interact with Livtencity. Always tell your doctor or pharmacist about all medicines, vitamins, and supplements you take. Your doctor may need to adjust doses of other medications, especially those used to prevent transplant rejection.
Yes, call your doctor immediately or go to the emergency room if you experience low white blood cell symptoms (high fever, severe chills, sore throat, mouth ulcers), swelling of hands/ankles/feet, high blood pressure, or kidney problems (changes in urination, swollen feet, unusual tiredness, muscle cramps, back pain, drowsiness).
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.