Other Uses For This Medicine
Acyclovir is also sometimes used to treat eczema herpeticum to treat and prevent herpes infections of the skin, eyes, nose, and mouth in patients with human immunodeficiency virus , and to treat oral hairy leukoplakia .
This medication may be prescribed for other uses ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Warnings For Certain Groups
For people with kidney problems: If you have kidney problems or a history of kidney disease, you may not be able to clear this drug from your body well. This may increase the levels of this drug in your body and cause more side effects.
This medication may also decrease your kidney function. This means your kidney disease may get worse. Your doctor will adjust your dose depending on how well your kidneys are working.
For pregnant women: Acyclovir is a category B pregnancy drug. That means two things:
Talk to your doctor if youre pregnant or planning to become pregnant. This drug should be used only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.
For women who are breastfeeding: Acyclovir may pass into breast milk and may cause side effects in a child who is breastfed. Talk to your doctor if you breastfeed your baby. You may need to decide whether to stop breastfeeding or stop taking this medication.
For seniors: The kidneys of older adults may not work as well as they used to. This can cause your body to process drugs more slowly. As a result, more of a drug stays in your body for a longer time. This raises your risk of side effects.
For children: This drug hasnt been studied in children younger than 2 years.
What May Interact With This Medication
Interactions are not expected. Do not apply other skin care products to the sore unless your care team tells you to.
This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.
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What Are Some Side Effects That I Need To Call My Doctor About Right Away
WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:
- Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash hives itching red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever wheezing tightness in the chest or throat trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking unusual hoarseness or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
How Is This Drug Best Taken
Use this drug as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.
Cream, ointment:
- Use as you have been told, even if your signs get better.
- Do not take this drug by mouth. Use on your skin only. Keep out of your mouth, nose, and eyes .
- Wash your hands before and after use.
- Clean affected part before use. Make sure to dry well.
- Put a thin layer on the affected skin and rub in gently.
Cream:
- Use at the first sign of a cold sore.
- Avoid putting on healthy skin.
- Do not rub the cold sore. Rubbing the cold sore may make it worse. It may also cause the cold sore to spread to other areas around the mouth.
Ointment:
- Use a rubber glove to put on the ointment. This helps to prevent the spread of infection.
Buccal tablets:
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Can I Take Acyclovir If Im Pregnant Or Breastfeeding
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Herpes can be passed to your baby during childbirth if you have a genital lesion when your baby is born. If you have genital herpes, it is very important to prevent herpes lesions during pregnancy. Take your medicine as directed to best control your infection.
It may not be safe to breastfeed while using this medicine. Ask your doctor about any risk.
What Is This Medication
ACYCLOVIR helps manage infections, such as cold sores and genital herpes, caused by viruses. This medication does not kill the virus and it may still be possible to spread the virus to others. This medication will not treat colds, the flu, or infections caused by bacteria.
This medicine may be used for other purposes ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.
COMMON BRAND NAME: Zovirax
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Home Remedies And Lifestyle
At-home treatments for herpes are used to relieve pain. They do nothing to alter the course of the infection but can make you more comfortable as the herpes sores begin to heal.
There are several things you can do if have an outbreak of oral or genital herpes:
- Use a cold compress. Place a cloth-covered ice pack on the sores for 15 minutes several times daily to reduce pain. Keep the ice pack moving to prevent frostbite.
- Do not touch or scratch. Avoid touching and rubbing the sores. Doing so can spread the infection to other areas of the skin.
- Keep the sores clean. Herpes sores can become infected with bacteria if touched with soiled hands. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after going to the bathroom or before applying medications.
- Reduce stress. Stress can increase your sensitivity to pain during a herpes outbreak. You can reduce stress by performing gentle exercises or practicing mind-body therapies like meditation, yoga, and guided imagery.
To reduce the risk of spreading herpes, avoid kissing and sharing objects that come into contact with saliva, like drinking straws and eating utensils.
It’s important to note that oral herpes can be spread to the genitals, and that genital herpes can be spread to the mouth. To reduce the risk of infection, use condoms and dental dams during oral sex. Better yet, avoid sex altogether if you are having an active herpes outbreak .
Before Using Aciclovir Cream
To make sure that this is the right treatment for you, before you start using aciclovir cream it is important that your doctor or pharmacist knows:
- If you are pregnant. This is because, if you are expecting a baby, medicines should only be used on the advice of a doctor.
- If your immune system is not working as well as it should . This is because you may need additional antiviral treatment.
- If you are taking or using any other medicines. This includes any medicines you are taking which are available to buy without a prescription, as well as herbal and complementary medicines.
- If you have ever had an allergic reaction to a medicine or skin product.
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What Do I Need To Tell My Doctor Before I Take This Drug
All products:
- If you are allergic to this drug any part of this drug or any other drugs, foods, or substances. Tell your doctor about the allergy and what signs you had.
Buccal tablets:
- If you have a milk allergy.
This drug may interact with other drugs or health problems.
Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your drugs and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe for you to take this drug with all of your drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug without checking with your doctor.
Genital Herpes During Pregnancy
Prevention of neonatal herpes depends both on preventing acquisition of genital herpes during late pregnancy and avoiding exposure of the neonate to herpetic lesions and viral shedding during delivery. Mothers of newborns who acquire neonatal herpes often lack histories of clinically evident genital herpes . The risk for transmission to the neonate from an infected mother is high among women who acquire genital herpes near the time of delivery and low among women with prenatal histories of recurrent herpes or who acquire genital herpes during the first half of pregnancy . Women who acquire HSV in the second half of pregnancy should be managed in consultation with maternal-fetal medicine and infectious disease specialists.
All pregnant women should be asked whether they have a history of genital herpes or genital symptoms concerning for HSV infection. At the onset of labor, all women should be questioned thoroughly about symptoms of genital herpes, including prodromal symptoms , and all women should be examined thoroughly for herpetic lesions. Women without symptoms or signs of genital herpes or its prodrome can deliver vaginally. Although cesarean delivery does not eliminate the risk for HSV transmission to the neonate , women with recurrent genital herpetic lesions at the onset of labor should have a cesarean delivery to reduce the risk for neonatal HSV infection.
Acyclovir 400 mg orally 3 times/dayORValacyclovir 500 mg orally 2 times/day
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What Is Acyclovir And How Does It Work
Acyclovir is approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a prescription drug that is commonly used as a topical, injectable, and oral treatment for genital herpes and cold sores. Herpes refers to a group of viruses that cause a variety of herpes infections including genital herpes, shingles, chicken pox , cold sores, and encephalitis . Herpes viral infections are very common. Genital herpes refers to a sexually transmitted disease that any sexually active person can contract and transmit.
Shingles and chicken pox are common skin conditions. Shingles and chicken pox are skin infections which are both caused by the herpes virus. They are not caused by the same virus that causes cold sores or genital herpes.
Many people who suffer from shingles or chicken pox infection will experience symptoms such as a rash, often with pain, which is treatable with this drug.
Genital herpes is an STD caused by two types of viruses: herpes simplex type 1 and herpes simplex type 2. Most people with genital herpes do not know they have it. Still, symptoms often appear days to weeks after exposure. Symptoms of genital herpes generally include:
- Flu-like symptoms such as fever, body aches, or swollen glands
- Blisters, sores, or rash in the genital area with or without pain, itching, tingling
- Blisters that pop open, causing painful sores.
Acyclovir may also help treat pain associated with an outbreak of genital herpes after the sores heal.
Acyclovir is the generic equivalent of Zovirax.
How To Take Acyclovir
Use Acyclovir exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.
Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.
Start taking acyclovir as soon as possible after the first appearance of symptoms . Start taking Sitavig within 1 hour after you first notice sold core symptoms, before the cold sore appears.
Read and carefully follow any Instructions for Use provided with your medicine. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you do not understand these instructions.
Do not crush, chew, suck on, or swallow a buccal tablet. Place the flat side of the tablet against your upper gum, on the same side of the mouth as your cold sore. Allow the tablet to dissolve in your mouth throughout the day. You may eat and drink normally while the buccal tablet is in place.
Do not give an acyclovir buccal tablet to a young child or choking could occur.
Shake the oral suspension before you measure a dose. Use the dosing syringe provided, or use a medicine dose-measuring device .
Acyclovir doses are based on weight . Your dose needs may change if you gain or lose weight.
Drink plenty of water while you are taking acyclovir to keep your kidneys working properly.
Lesions caused by herpes viruses should be kept as clean and dry as possible. Wearing loose clothing may help to prevent irritation of the lesions.
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Before Taking This Medicine
You should not take this medicine if you are allergic to acyclovir or valacyclovir . You should not take acyclovir buccal tablets if you are allergic to milk proteins.
To make sure this medicine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:
-
kidney disease or
-
a weak immune system .
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Herpes can be passed to your baby during childbirth if you have a genital lesion when your baby is born. If you have genital herpes, it is very important to prevent herpes lesions during pregnancy. Take your medicine as directed to best control your infection.
It may not be safe to breastfeed while using this medicine. Ask your doctor about any risk.
Acyclovir should not be given to a child younger than 2 years old.
Suppressive Therapy For Recurrent Hsv
Suppressive therapy reduces frequency of genital herpes recurrences by 70%80% among patients who have frequent recurrences . Persons receiving such therapy often report having experienced no symptomatic outbreaks. Suppressive therapy also is effective for patients with less frequent recurrences. Long-term safety and efficacy have been documented among patients receiving daily acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir . Quality of life is improved for many patients with frequent recurrences who receive suppressive therapy rather than episodic treatment . Providers should discuss with patients on an annual basis whether they want to continue suppressive therapy because frequency of genital HSV-2 recurrence diminishes over time for many persons. However, neither treatment discontinuation nor laboratory monitoring is necessary because adverse events and development of HSV antiviral resistance related to long-term antiviral use are uncommon.
Valacyclovir 500 mg orally 2 times/day for 3 daysOR
Valacyclovir 1 gm orally once daily for 5 days
*Acyclovir 400 mg orally 3 times/day is also effective, but are not recommended because of frequency of dosing.
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Acyclovir May Cause Side Effects Tell Your Doctor If Any Of These Symptoms Are Severe Or Do Not Go Away:
- numbness, burning, or tingling in the arms or legs
- temporary inability to move parts of your body
- shaking of a part of your body that you cannot control
- loss of consciousness
Acyclovir may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while you are taking or using this medication.
If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online or by phone .
Why Is This Medication Prescribed
Acyclovir is used to decrease pain and speed the healing of sores or blisters in people who have varicella , herpes zoster , and first-time or repeat outbreaks of genital herpes . Acyclovir is also sometimes used to prevent outbreaks of genital herpes in people who are infected with the virus. Acyclovir is in a class of antiviral medications called synthetic nucleoside analogues. It works by stopping the spread of the herpes virus in the body. Acyclovir will not cure genital herpes and may not stop the spread of genital herpes to other people.
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To Use Buccal Acyclovir Follow These Steps:
If the delayed-release buccal tablet comes off within the first 6 hours of application, reapply the same tablet. If it still will not stick, then apply a new tablet. If you accidentally swallow the tablet within the first 6 hours of application, drink a glass of water and place a new tablet on your gum. If the tablet falls off or is swallowed 6 or more hours after application, do not apply a new tablet until your next regular time.
Mechanism Of Action And Pharmacokinetics
The bioavailability of penciclovir following oraladministration of famciclovir is about 70%. Peak concentrations of drug afterintravenous administration of 10 mg/kg are approximately six-fold higher thanthose attained after oral doses of 250 mg. Food delays absorption but does notaffect the final plasma drug concentration. Following oral administration,little or no famciclovir is detected in plasma or urine. The plasma half-life ofpenciclovir is about 2.5 hours, and almost three-quarters is recovered unchangedin the urine. Measurable penciclovir concentrations are not detectable in plasmaor urine following topical administration of penciclovir cream. A 12-hour dosinginterval is recommended for those with creatinine clearances between 30 and 50ml/min per 1.73 m2, and a 24-hour interval for those with creatinineclearances less than 30 ml/min per 1.73 m2 .
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Treatment For Oral Herpes
The antiviral medications available in pill form have been specifically developed for the treatment of genital herpes. However, it is not uncommon for healthcare providers to prescribe the antiviral drugs to those who have frequent or severe outbreaks of oral herpes.
A recent study found valacyclovir to be effective for treating oral herpes in a one-day treatment of 2 grams taken at the first sign of a cold sore, and then again about 12 hours later.
There are two topical antiviral medications prescribed for the treatment of oral HSV symptoms: acyclovir ointment and penciclovir cream. Both work to speed up the healing process and reduce the viral activity. These topical drugs are put directly on the lesions themselves, but can also be used at the onset of prodrome.
Other topical treatments for oral herpes are available over-the-counter , but are not antiviral compounds like acyclovir and penciclovir. Some also contain ingredients that numb the area and induce temporary relief from the discomfort of an outbreak. Unfortunately, some OTC treatments may actually delay the healing time of symptoms because they can further irritate the area with repeated applications. There is only one OTC FDA-approved cream, called Abreva®, which has been clinically proven to help speed the healing process.