Zovirax is a prescription medicine that belongs to a class of drugs called antivirals. Zovirax contains aciclovir as its active ingredient and has potent antiviral activity. This medication is mainly used for the treatment of viral infections like genital herpes, cold sores, and chickenpox.
If you are diagnosed with the herpes virus, start the therapy as soon as possible or at the first sign of an outbreak. Your doctor may prescribe you Zovirax tablets depending on your age and medical condition. The tablets are taken orally with or without food.
Take the medication at the same times every day for maximum benefit. Do not skip any dose, or stop this medication early without consulting your doctor. Always drink enough water while taking Zovirax to prevent the chances of dehydration and kidney damage.
Patients may experience some common side effects after taking Zovirax, including:
Contact your doctor immediately if you notice any serious side effects, including:
If you havesix or more recurrent outbreaksof genital herpesa yearor if yoursymptoms are very severeand causing youdistress, you can take aciclovir every day on a long-term basis. This issuppressive treatmentand it aims to stop outbreaks happening at all.
How often do I take suppressive treatment? You take one aciclovir 400mg tablet twice a day.
Thetreatment is continued for six to 12 months. Then you have a break from medication to re-assess recurrence frequency. Suppressive treatment may be restarted if you have further severe outbreaks. Suppressive treatment can reduce the risk of passing HSV on to your partner but it cannot prevent it altogether and so you should always wear a female or male condom during any sexual activity. If you are experiencing recurrent outbreaks of genital herpes you should also consider being tested for HIV as it may be a sign of a weakened immune system due to HIV.Caution: It’s important to maintain adequate hydration while taking either of the treatments for genital herpes.
Vulvovine blood cells (VLF) - to know how often do suppressive treatment would be restarted. There are many forms of suppressive treatment and there is a very small risk of using a condom at any time. You may need to stop taking suppressive treatment to stop complications. However, a steady supply of hydration is being maintained at all times during your treatment. This helps with reducing the risk of passing HSV on to your partner. You should not stop taking suppressive treatment without talking to your doctor.Serious - you should not take aciclovir if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. Inform your doctor if you have any of the following medical conditions:osteoporosisand/or liver diseasecaused by the active or subordinate herpes virusessevere skin rash, eczema, athlete’s foot, or rashesall of which can be fatalso don’t expect spontaneous resolution of any of these conditions. Take all recommended doses with a full glass of water. Aciclovir can be taken with or without food. You should avoid grapefruit juice as it mayigue and not work as well as it might upon initiation of aciclovir treatment. You should not take aciclovir if you are taking or have been taking:
a boosted second line anti- herpes virus vaccine as it may be associated with a small increase in the risk of getting active herpes virus infections. You should also avoid alcohol as it can potentially affect your ability to produce or releasearger quantities of the virus. You should talk to your doctor as soon as youhao - there may be a potential need to discontinue treatment as it may have become unmanaging and potentiallyworsening your symptoms. You should also be watchful at han 200 for the first 6 months. You should report any unexplained pain or discomfort associated with genital herpes to your doctor. Then you should re-evaluate if you are still experiencing outbreaks frequency or risk. Suppressive treatment is still recommended for all outbreaks, so talk to your doctor about what to do if you stop taking suppressive treatment.
Note:You will need to see your doctor abouthis/her treatment for outbreaks, so inform your doctor if you are still experiencing outbreaks frequency and risk.
ervical cancer - to know how often do suppressive treatment. You may need to stop suppressive treatment to stop complications.Sexual dysfunction - to know how often do suppressive treatment. There are many forms of suppressive treatment and there is a very small risk of taking suppressive treatment.Serious - you should not take aciclovir if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
This medicine is prescribed to adults aged 16 years and over who have a genital herpes or have genital herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection, such as genital herpes or chickenpox, or an HSV-1 virus (herpes labialis). This medicine is not indicated for children or adolescents aged less than 16 years. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.
This medicine is available without a prescription from your doctor. You can buy this medicine online from the official UK Pharmacy. However, the medicine is strictly prohibited and you must consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine.
This medicine is not available in generic form. You must consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine. If you are allergic to aciclovir or any other ingredients in this medicine, you must not take this medicine and consult your doctor or pharmacist for further advice.
This leaflet answers some common questions about this medicine. It does not contain all the available information.
Aciclovir is an antiviral medicine that works against the herpes virus and is the first and only treatment for herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection.
Aciclovir is used to treat cold sores (herpes labialis).
Aciclovir works by blocking the replication of the herpes virus, thereby preventing the spread of the virus. This prevents the virus from spreading further.
Aciclovir is not known to cause harm to pregnant women and children. However, aciclovir is considered safe for use in children and adults aged over 16 years.
There are a number of medicines containing aciclovir, but there are some that are less safe.
There is not enough information to say whether aciclovir is safe for children. However, children are not advised to take aciclovir.
This leaflet answers some common questions about this leaflet.
Aciclovir is used to treat cold sores (small blisters caused by an infection with the herpes simplex virus) and outbreaks of genital herpes. It also reduces the number of future outbreaks in a person’s body. Acyclovir has been used to treat cold sores for many years and is now available as over-the-counter (OTC) medicines.
Aciclovir works by reducing the virus’s ability to replicate its ability to infect other parts of the body, which reduces the duration of outbreaks. This reduces the risk of transmission of the virus to others.
Aciclovir is usually taken as a single dose (1 g) with a glass of water or milk. Follow your doctor’s instructions when taking this medicine.
The usual dose of aciclovir is one 1 g tablet taken with a glass of water or milk or with a glass of milk. If you prefer, you may also take one 1 g tablet twice daily.
Acyclovir is usually taken as a single dose (1 g) with a glass of water or milk.
Do not take aciclovir more than once a day.
If you forget a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
It usually takes about 1-2 days for Aciclovir to start working and will usually improve within 3 to 6 days. This will allow you to take the medication regularly for a full course of treatment.
Aciclovir is generally not contagious, even after a short course of treatment. However, it is possible to be infected for longer periods of time (up to a few days) and therefore you should not reactivate.
If you have been diagnosed with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) or HSV-2, you may have outbreaks of genital herpes for several days after the initial infection.
If you are taking a new medicine containing aciclovir, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, especially those containing the antiviral drug valaciclovir.
Aciclovir is generally well tolerated, although some people may experience side effects such as itching, redness and swelling. However, if you experience any side effects, contact your doctor immediately.
Other side effects may include:
The following conditions apply to Aciclovir. Please consult your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, especially those containing the antiviral drug valaciclovir.
Please consult your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines.
Store Aciclovir tablets at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep the tablets in a dry place away from direct sunlight. Do not store the medication in the bathroom, near a sink or in the bathroom bin.
Cite as:1U2X2
Type of medicine:Anti-infectiveTreatment:AciclovirPrescription:Not available.What it is:Aciclovir (Acyclovir) TabletsDosage:10Per Tablet:5ml1-2 Tablets
1.0
This medicine is used for the treatment of shingles (shingles affecting the throat and mouth).
2.5
This medicine is used to treat shingles (shingles caused by the herpes virus) in people with a weakened immune system. Shingles can be painful, and may last for several days to a week, depending on the type of shingles. However, shingles can be easily managed with the use of aciclovir. It is important to follow the doctor's instructions. This medicine may cause side effects such as headache, nausea, and stuffy or runny nose. If any of these occur, stop taking the medicine and see your doctor straight away. This medicine is not a cure and should not be used for longer than recommended.
2U2X2
Aciclovir Tablets
This medicine is not a cure and should be used for longer than recommended.
The information provided on this page is for reference only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor, or a specialist who is your trusted can provide you with the most effective treatment for your particular situation.
AppendixTable 1. Dosage and administration of Aciclovir Tablets