What is acyclovir?

Acyclovir is known to be an effective antiviral drug recommended by many doctors today, but you need to follow the article below to know the effects, dosage and specific use of this drug. Please!

The effect of acyclovir drugs

Acyclovir is used to treat infections caused by certain viruses. Medicines to treat sores around the mouth (caused by herpes simplex), shingles (caused by Zona zoster), and chicken pox.

This drug is also used to treat genital herpes outbreaks. In people with frequent relapses, acyclovir is used to help reduce the number of relapses.

The drug acyclovir is an antiviral drug. However, it does not cure the infection. The viruses that cause infections continue to live in the body even between outbreaks.

Acyclovir reduces the severity and duration of flares. It helps sores heal faster, keeps new sores from growing, and reduces pain / itching. This medicine may also help relieve pain after the sores heal. In addition, in people with weak immune systems, acyclovir can reduce the risk of the virus spreading to other parts of the body and causing serious infections.

How to use acyclovir

Take it with or without food, usually 2 to 5 times a day or as directed by your doctor. Drink plenty of water when taking this medication, unless directed by your doctor.

If you are using liquid medicine, shake the bottle well before each dose. Carefully measure the dose using a special measuring device / spoon. Do not use a spoon to measure the amount of medicine you may take.

This medicine works best when started using at the first sign of an outbreak, as directed by your doctor. The medicine will not work well if you delay treatment.

This dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment. For children, the dosage is also based on body weight.

This medicine works best when the drug concentration in your body is kept at a stable level. So take the medication at evenly spaced intervals. To help you remember, take the medication at the same time each day.

Continue taking the medication until the end of the entire prescribed dose. Do not change your dose, skip any doses, or stop taking your medication early without your doctor's approval.

Tell your doctor if your condition persists or worsens.

Acyclovir topical cream.

How to preserve acyclovir medicine

You should store at room temperature, away from moisture and light. Do not store in the bathroom or in the freezer. You should remember that each drug may have different storage methods. Therefore, you should carefully read the storage instructions on the package, or ask a pharmacist. Keep out of reach of children and pets.

You should not throw medication into the toilet or plumbing unless required. Instead, dispose of properly when the medicine is out of date or cannot be used. You can consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company about how to safely dispose of your medication.

Dosage

Dosage for adults

Usual Adult Dose for Herpes Simplex - mucosa / immune system:

Oral:

1. Initial stage or intermittent treatment : 200 mg orally every 4 hours (5 times a day) for 10 days or 400 mg orally 3 times a day or 200 mg orally 5 times a day for 7-10 days .
2. Recurrent stage : 200 mg orally every 4 hours (5 times a day) for 5 days or 400 mg orally 3 times a day for 5 days, take 800 mg orally twice a day for 5 days, or take 800 mg orally 3 times a day for 2 days.

Treatment of orolabial HSV infection: 400 mg orally 5 times daily for 5 days.

Intravenous injection:

Severe initial stage: 5-10 mg / kg of the ideal weight is infused intravenously every 8 hours for 5-7 days

Treatment should begin at the earliest sign or symptom of an infection (initial stage) or relapse.

Usual Adult Dose for Herpes Simplex - mucosa / immunodeficiency:

1. Oral : 400 mg every 8 hours for 7 to 14 days
2. Intravenous injection of 5 mg / kg infused intravenously every 8 hours for 7 to 14 days.

Treatment for flares: 200 mg orally every 4 hours (5 times a day) for 5-10 days

1. Or, take 400 mg orally 3 times a day for 5-10 days or 7-14 days.
2. Treatment of Orolabial HSV infection for HIV-infected patients: 400 mg 3 times a day for 7-14 days.

Usual Adult Dose for Herpes Simplex Encephalitis:

Administer 10-15 mg / kg of ideal weight into a vein every 8 hours 10 to 21 days.

Usual Adult Dose for Herpes Simplex - prevent:

Chronic suppressive therapy:

1. Patients with normal functioning immune system : 400 mg orally twice a day; Can replace dose of 200 mg, taken 3-5 times a day.
2. HIV-infected patients : 200 mg orally 3 times a day or 400 mg orally 2 times a day.
3. Patients with HIV, vaginal herpes : use 400 to 800 mg orally 2 to 3 times daily.

Usual adult dose for shingles neuropathy:

Acute shingles shingles:

Take 800 mg orally every 4 hours (5 times a day) for 7-10 days.

Serious immunodeficiency: 10 mg / kg of ideal weight is given intravenously every 8 hours for 7 to 14 days.

You should start treatment within 72 hours after the rash, although, in clinical trials, acyclovir is most effective when started within the first 48 hours.

Usual adult dose for chickenpox shingles:

Patients with normal immune system: 800 mg orally 4 times daily for 5 days.

Immunocompromised patients: 10 mg / kg of ideal body weight is administered intravenously every 8 hours for 7 to 10 days or until there is no new lesion for 48 hours; After the fever is gone and if there is no evidence related to the organs, the patient can be switched to 800 mg, taken four times a day.

You should start treatment at the earliest signs of chicken pox, no later than 24 hours after the rash.

Dosage for children

Usual Pediatric Dose for Herpes Simplex:

HSV infection in newborns:

Under 3 months: 10-20 mg / kg or 500 mg / m2 of skin infused intravenously every 8 hours 10 to 21 days.

Some doctors recommend a 10 mg / kg dose every 12 hours for preterm infants.

Usual pediatric dose for Herpes Simplex - mucosal / host immunity:

Children 3 months to 11 years old:

Initial stage: 10-20 mg / kg orally 4 times a day or 8 to 16 mg / kg orally 5 times a day for 7-10 days.

Doctors recommend that 40-80 mg / kg daily be divided into 3-4 doses for 5 to 10 days.

Maximum dose: 1 g / day

Children 12 years and older, over 40 kg:

Initial stage, severe initial stage, and recurrence phase: dose for adults.

Usual pediatric dose for Herpes Simplex - mucosa / immunodeficiency:

Treatment of HSV skin and mucous membrane infections:

Oral administration: 1 g orally daily in divided doses of 3-5 doses for 7 to 14 days The dose recommended by the doctor.

Intravenous infusion (3 months to 11 years): 5-10 mg / kg or 250-500 mg / m2 intravenously every 8 hours for 7 to 14 days

Infusion into a vein (12 years and older, over 40 kg): adult dose.

Usual pediatric dose for Herpes Simplex encephalitis:

Children 3 months to 11 years: 10-20 mg / kg or 500 mg / m2 of intravenous infusion every 8 hours 10 to 21 days.

Children 12 years and older: dose for adults.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Herpes Simplex - prevent:

Oral:

1. Children under 12 years: 80 mg / kg / day orally divided into 3-4 doses in a day, no more than 1 g / day.
2. Children 12 years and older: dose for adults.

Intravenous infusion:

Immunocompromised patients: 5 mg / kg IV every 8 or 12 hours or 250 mg / m2 IV every 8 hours during the critical period.

Usual pediatric dose for shingles

Oral:

Patients with normal immune system (12 years or older): 800 mg orally every 4 hours (5 times a day) for 5-10 days.

HIV-infected patients take 20 mg / kg (maximum 800 mg per dose) orally 4 times a day for 7-10 days.

Types and content of acyclovir drugs

Acyclovir has the following forms and levels:

1. Capsules, oral medications: acyclovir 200mg, acyclovir 400mg, acyclovir 800mg.
2. Solution, injection: 50mg / ml (10ml, 20ml);
3. Reconstituted solution, injection: 500mg, 1000mg;
4. Suspension, oral medicine: 200mg / 5ml (473ml);
5. Topical acyclovir
6. Acyclovir cream

Side effects

Go to emergency if you experience any of the following signs of allergy:

1. Rash;
2. Shortness of breath;
3. Swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor right away if you have any of the following serious side effects:

1. Pain in the lower back;
2. Urinating less than usual or not urinating;
3. Easy bruising or bleeding;
4. Unusually weak.

Less serious side effects include:

1. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, abdominal pain;
2. Headache, feeling delirious;
3. Swelling of the hands or feet

Not everyone experiences the above side effects. There may be other side effects not mentioned. If you have any questions about side effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Note before taking acyclovir

Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to acyclovir, valyclovir (Valtrex), any other medicines, or any of the ingredients of acyclovir. Ask your pharmacist for a list of ingredients.

Tell your doctor and pharmacist about prescription and over-the-counter medicines, supplements, nutrients, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following:

1. Antifungal antibiotics (Fungizone);
2. Aminoglycoside antibiotics such as amikacin (Amikin), gentamicin (Garamycin), kanamycin (Kantrex), neomycin (Nes-RX, Neo-Fradin), paramomycin (Humatin), streptomycin, and tobramycin (Tobi, Nebcin);
3. Aspirin and other NSAIDs such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn);
4. Cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune);
5. Medicines for treating HIV or AIDS infection such as zidovudine (Retrovir, AZT);
6. Pentamidine (NebuPent);
7. Probenecid (Benemid);
8. Sulfonamides such as sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim (Bactrim);
9. Tacrolimus (Prograf).

Many other medicines can also interact with acyclovir, so be sure to tell your doctor about all the medicines you are taking, even those that do not appear on this list. Your doctor may need to change your medication dose or monitor carefully to avoid medication side effects.

Tell your doctor if there is a possibility you may be dehydrated from a recent illness or activity, or if you are or have ever had problems with your immune system; infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); Immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS); or kidney disease.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while taking acyclovir, call your doctor.

If you are taking acyclovir to treat genital herpes, you should know that genital herpes can spread sexually even if you do not have blisters or other symptoms and possibly even if you are taking acyclovir drug. Talk to your doctor about ways to prevent the spread of genital herpes and about whether your partner should be treated.

Take this medicine all the time as prescribed by your doctor. Your symptoms may be better before the infection is completely treated.

Treatment with acyclovir must be started as soon as possible after the first symptoms (such as itching, burning, blisters).

Herpes infection is highly contagious and can infect others, even while you are being treated with acyclovir. Avoid exposing people to contaminated areas. Avoid touching the infected area and then touching your eyes. Wash your hands often to avoid spreading the disease to others.

It is important to note if you are pregnant or breastfeeding

There are still not enough studies to determine the risk of using this medication during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Before taking medication, always consult your doctor to weigh the benefits and risks. According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), this drug is a Class B drug for pregnancy. You can refer to the table below for pregnant women:

1. A = No risk;
2. B = No risk in some studies;
3. C = There may be a risk;
4. D = There is evidence of risk;
5. X = Contraindicated;
6. N = Unknown.

Drug interactions

Drug interactions can alter the ability of the drug to work or increase the effects of side effects. This document does not include the full range of possible drug interactions. Write a list of all the medicines you are taking (including prescription, over-the-counter and supplements) and show it to your doctor or pharmacist. You should not use, stop, or change the dosage of your medication without your doctor's permission.

This medicine is not recommended for use with any of the following medicines, but may be required in some cases. If both drugs are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both medications.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may put you at risk for certain side effects, but using these two drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both drugs are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both medications.

1. Fosphenytoin;
2. Phenytoin;
3. Valproic acid.

Consult your health professional about taking medication with food, alcohol and tobacco.

Your medical condition may affect the use of this medicine. Tell your doctor if you have any health problems, especially:

1. Dehydration;
2. Kidney disease. Dehydration or kidney disease may increase blood acyclovir levels, increasing the risk of side effects;
3. Nervous system problems. Acyclovir can make these problems worse.

Note: Information about medicines, proprietary medicines posted in the Family medicine cabinet section on Khoahoc.tv website is for reference only. Please consult with your doctor before deciding to treat any medicine to bring good effect and safety for your health.

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