ACYCLOVIR (ACICLOVIR)

 Antiviral medicine for herpes virus infections.

Dosage forms

• Tablet: 200 mg
• Cream: 5%
• Eye ointment: 3%

Uses

• Herpes simplex
• Herpes zoster (varicella-zoster)

Dose and duration

• Non-genital Herpes simplex

Adult and child >2 years: 200 mg every 4 hours (400 mg in immunocompromised patients) for 5 days or un-til healing is complete

Child 1 month–2 years: 100 mg every 4 hours for 5 days or until healing is complete

• Herpes simplex infection of the eyes

Apply 1 cm of ointment every 6 hours. Continue for at least 3 days after healing is complete

• Herpes simplex infection of lips and face (Herpes labialis)

Adult and child: treatment should ideally be started when lesions first appear. Apply a thin film of cream to the lesions and surrounding skin 5 times a day every 4 hour during the day for 5 days. Continue treatment for 5 more days if healing has not occurred

• Genital herpes simplex

Adult: 800 mg every 8 hours for 5 days (10 days in immunocompromised) or until healing is complete

• Varicella and herpes zoster

Adult: 800 mg every 4 hours for 7 days or until lesions are healed in immunocompromised patients

Child 6–12 years: 800 mg every 6 hours for 7 days

Child 2–6 years: 400 mg every 6 hours for 5 days

Child 1 month–2 years: 200 mg every 6 hours for 5 days

Side effects

• Stomach upset
• Headache, feeling of tiredness
• Rash
• Local irritation (for cream or eye ointment)