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FAMCICLOVIR

All products: Limited Use (codes 147)

Other products in the same Health Canada class (J05A, J05AB) — coverage varies; not interchangeable

  • Acyclovir (Zovirax): general benefit, Not a benefit
  • Ganciclovir (Cytovene): general benefit
  • Valacyclovir (Valtrex): general benefit, Not a benefit
  • Remdesivir (Veklury): limited Use 722
  • Valganciclovir (Valcyte): limited Use 374, 568, 569, Limited Use 571, 572, 573
  • Abacavir + lamivudine + zidovudine (Trizivir): general benefit

48 more in the class list below

Famvir · DIN 02177102 · 500mg · tablet

Limited Use — Reason for Use code 147 requiredMarketed · checked 2026-09-02
StatusLimited Use — Reason for Use code 147 required
Write on scriptLU code 147 (patient must meet the criteria below)
Patient paysPatient pays: program not supplied; amount cannot be determined.
Private plan unknown: ask. If yes, check its coverage and payer coordination; if no, see the public routes below.
Ontario Limited Use criteria — code 147
Reason for Use code 147 Herpes zoster in patients 50 years of age or older, up to 72 hours* after appearance of lesions. Dose: 500mg 3 times/day for 7 days. Coverage limit: *The patient must begin treatment within the time frame specified for the product to be reimbursed. There is no benefit from the therapy begun after this time frame. Coverage limit: Network will limit supply to 7 days and 21 tablets. Coverage limit: LU Authorization Period: 1 year
1 brand, same coverage
Famvir · DIN 02177102 Manufacturer: Atnahs Pharma UK Limited; listing date 1996-10-01 Health Canada: Marketed since 2025-02-13 · brand FAMVIR · ATC J05AB09 FAMCICLOVIR · form Tablet · route Oral · ingredients FAMCICLOVIR 500 MG · company Searchlight pharma inc · schedule Prescription
Check this DIN again · Health Canada product record

Ministry pays: $4.2591 per source unit.

Source explanation: The formulary price is what ODB pays; the cash price at the counter is set by the pharmacy.

Formulary data: Ontario extract of Aug 26, 2026 · Health Canada DPD extract of Sep 2, 2026 (Open Government Licence – Canada) · https://health-products.canada.ca/dpd-bdpp/info?lang=eng&code=18768 · Verify on the e-Formulary ↗ (DIN 02177102)

Source record
DIN 02177102: Famvir Raw flags: sec12=Y, sec3=Y Item: 081800011; group id 88; item number 0158; lccId 00008; manufacturer id APU Source form: Tab; strength: 500mg Recorded listing: Limited Use: paid only with a Reason for Use code and the criteria below Source prices (unrounded): $7.7438; ministry $4.2591 Source: ODB odb-formulary-ed43-extract-2026-08-26.xml extract_date=2026-08-26 DIN=02177102 Health Canada DPD extract of Sep 2, 2026 (Open Government Licence – Canada) · https://health-products.canada.ca/dpd-bdpp/info?lang=eng&code=18768
Interchangeable products
Apo-Famciclovir · DIN 02292068 · $4.2591
Shortage status: resolved shortage (ended 2021-02-28); reports as of 2026-09-13T08:10:21.292534+00:00 (Health Product Shortages Canada) Source: https://healthproductshortages.ca/search?term=02177102
Shortage record checked 2026-09-13T08:10:21.292534+00:00
Other drugs in the same formulary class (08:18 Antivirals) and how they are covered

Matched class: 08:18 Antivirals

Drug-class inventory only. Lists recorded Ontario formulary products, not every Canadian medication; does not recommend treatment. Covered without a code on the Ontario formulary: ABACAVIR & LAMIVUDINE & ZIDOVUDINE, ABACAVIR SULFATE, ABACAVIR SULFATE & LAMIVUDINE, BICTEGRAVIR SODIUM/EMTRICITABINE/TENOFOVIR ALAFENAMIDE HEMIFUMARATE, CABOTEGRAVIR, CABOTEGRAVIR & RILPIVIRINE, COBICISTAT & ELVITEGRAVIR & EMTRICITABINE & TENOFOVIR DISOPROXIL FUMARATE, DARUNAVIR & COBICISTAT, DARUNAVIR & COBICISTAT & EMTRICITABINE & TENOFOVIR ALAFENAMIDE, DELAVIRDINE MESYLATE, DOLUTEGRAVIR, DOLUTEGRAVIR & ABACAVIR & LAMIVUDINE, DOLUTEGRAVIR & RILPIVIRINE, DOLUTEGRAVIR SODIUM/LAMIVUDINE, DORAVIRINE, DORAVIRINE/LAMIVUDINE/TENOFOVIR DISOPROXIL FUMARATE, EFAVIRENZ/TENOFOVIR DISOPROXIL FUMARATE/EMTRICITABINE, ELVITEGRAVIR & COBICISTAT & EMTRICITABINE & TENOFOVIR ALAFENAMIDE, EMTRICITABINE & RILPIVIRINE HCL & TENOFOVIR ALAFENAMIDE HEMIFUMARATE, EMTRICITABINE & RILPIVIRINE HCL & TENOFOVIR DISOPROXIL, EMTRICITABINE & TENOFOVIR DISOPROXIL FUMARATE, ETRAVIRINE, FOSAMPRENAVIR CALCIUM, GANCICLOVIR SODIUM, LAMIVUDINE & ZIDOVUDINE, LOPINAVIR & RITONAVIR, MARAVIROC, NELFINAVIR MESYLATE, RALTEGRAVIR POTASSIUM, RILPIVIRINE HYDROCHLORIDE, RITONAVIR Some products covered without a code (check the product listing): ACYCLOVIR, ATAZANAVIR SULFATE, DARUNAVIR, EFAVIRENZ, LAMIVUDINE, NEVIRAPINE, VALACYCLOVIR 08:18 Antivirals

ACYCLOVIR

· 15 products · Listed, not a benefit (2), General benefit (13) · strengths: 200mg, 400mg, 800mg · Tab

GANCICLOVIR SODIUM

· 1 products · General benefit · strengths: 500mg/Vial · Pd Inj-10mL Pk

VALACYCLOVIR

· 21 products · General benefit (13), Off-Formulary Interchangeable, not an ODB benefit (8) · strengths: 500mg, 1000mg · Tab

REMDESIVIR

· 1 products · Limited Use, codes 722 · strengths: 100mg/vial · Pd for Sol-100mg Vial Pk

VALGANCICLOVIR

· 6 products · Limited Use, codes 571, 572, 573 (2), Limited Use, codes 374, 568, 569 (4) · strengths: 50mg/mL, 450mg · Pd for Oral Sol-100mL Pk, Tab

ABACAVIR & LAMIVUDINE & ZIDOVUDINE

· 2 products · General benefit · strengths: 300mg & 150mg & 300mg · Tab

ABACAVIR SULFATE

· 4 products · General benefit · strengths: 20mg/mL, 300mg · O/L, Tab

ABACAVIR SULFATE & LAMIVUDINE

· 7 products · General benefit · strengths: 600mg & 300mg · Tab

ATAZANAVIR SULFATE

· 12 products · General benefit (8), Off-Formulary Interchangeable, not an ODB benefit (4) · strengths: 150mg, 200mg, 300mg · Cap

BICTEGRAVIR SODIUM/EMTRICITABINE/TENOFOVIR ALAFENAMIDE HEMIFUMARATE

· 1 products · General benefit · strengths: 50mg & 200mg & 25mg · Tab

CABOTEGRAVIR

· 3 products · General benefit · strengths: 200mg/mL, 30mg · Inj Sol-ER Susp 3mL Vial Kit Pk, Tab

CABOTEGRAVIR & RILPIVIRINE

· 2 products · General benefit · strengths: 200mg/mL & 300mg/mL · Inj Sol-2mL Kit, Inj Sol-3mL Kit Source: formulary-ed43-front-matter.txt Part V; ODB odb-formulary-ed43-extract-2026-08-26.xml extract_date=2026-08-26; class 08:18 and 42 more
Full class listing Related classes: 08:08 Anthelmintics, 08:12 Antibiotics, 08:14 Antifungals, 08:16 Antitubercular Agents, 08:20 Plasmodicides (Antimalarials), 08:24 Sulfonamides, 08:30 Antiprotozoals, 08:32 Trichomonacides, 08:36 Urinary Anti-Infectives, 08:40 Miscellaneous Anti-Infectives Same formulary class, not same indication: class membership alone does not establish equivalent uses.
Other drugs whose Health Canada label lists a similar indication: herpes zoster
From Health Canada product monographs; label wording only, not a treatment recommendation. Matching is lexical and uses one held product label per generic; formulations and qualifying criteria may differ. No displayed matched alternative is a general benefit. VALACYCLOVIR · General benefit (13), Off-Formulary Interchangeable, not an ODB benefit (8) Indications VALTREX, valacyclovir tablets (as valacyclovir hydrochloride), is indicated: • For the treatment of herpes zoster (shingles) in adult patients. PM: https://pdf.hres.ca/dpd_pm/00083875.PDF; date 2026-03-13; DIN 02219492; fetched 2026-09-10 Product monograph Coverage source: ON formulary extract 2026-08-26
What the Health Canada label says it is for
INDICATIONS AND CLINICAL USE FAMVIR® (famciclovir) tablets are indicated : • for the treatment of acute herpes zoster (shingles) • for the treatment or suppression of recurrent episodes of genital herpes in immunocompetent adults. • for the treatment of recurrent episodes of mucocutaneous herpes simplex infections in HIV-infected patients. Early treatment of acute herpes zoster (shingles) in immune-competent individuals with oral famciclovir resulted in decreased time to loss of vesicles; decreased time to loss of crusts; and decreased viral shedding. The results of clinical studies indicate that early treatment of acute herpes zoster with oral famciclovir resulted in decreased duration of post-herpetic neuralgia. Those most likely to benefit are patients who initiate treatment within 48 hours of onset of rash or are greater than 50 years of age or those patients with severe pain at the time of treatment initiation. In clinical studies of immunocompetent patients with recurrent genital herpes (typically ≥ 6 episodes in a 12 month period) famciclovir suppressed lesional episodes, slowed the rate to first recurrence and patients were mor… https://pdf.hres.ca/dpd_pm/00078599.PDF PM date: FEB 13, 2025 Source product: FAMVIR; DIN 02177102; fetched 2026-09-10 Product monograph posted by Health Canada; excerpt for lookup only.