Aciclovir is a medicine used to treat viral infections. It’s available in cream and ointment form and also in tablet form. The severity of the infection decides that whether you use a cream or ointment or ingest a tablet. It is used to treat mainly two forms of viral infections, caused by the two viruses, varicella zoster and herpes simplex. The first one causes chicken pox and shingles, while the next one causes forms of herpes and related symptoms like cold sores.
Most herpes infections are treatable with the acyclovir ointment while some may need ingestion of aciclovir tablets.
Conditions to take care of
You may be sensitive to acyclovir cream when you are into some kind of condition which is as follows:
• If you are trying to conceive, or are already pregnant or breastfeeding
• If you have any kidney related problems
• You must tell your doctor about all other medicines whether they are chemical or herbal
• Any allergies in past
Before taking aciclovir
Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine can only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking aciclovir it is important that the person prescribing it for you knows:
- If you are pregnant or breast-feeding (although aciclovir is not known to be harmful to a baby).
- If you have any problems with the way your kidneys work.
- 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.
- Before you start the treatment, read the manufacturer’s printed information leaflet from inside the pack. It will give you more information about aciclovir, and it will also provide you with a full list of the side-effects which you could experience from taking it.
- Your dose will depend upon the type of infection you have, so take aciclovir exactly as your doctor tells you to. Typically, doses range from 200 mg to 800 mg, and these doses are taken either three, four or five times daily. Your doctor or pharmacist will tell you what dose is right for you, and this information will also be printed on the label of the pack to remind you about what was said to you.
- Space out your doses evenly during the day. You can take aciclovir either with or without food.
- Even if you feel your infection has cleared up, keep taking aciclovir until the course is finished (unless your doctor tells you to stop sooner). This is to prevent the infection from coming back. The course of treatment prescribed could last between 2-10 days. If you still feel unwell after finishing the course, go back to see your doctor.
- If you have been prescribed a dispersible tablet – these can be stirred into a small glassful (50 ml) of water to make them easier to swallow. You can, however, swallow them as normal if you prefer.
- If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember and then continue as before. Try to take the correct number of doses each day, but do not take two doses at the same time to make up for a missed dose.
- You should drink plenty while you are on aciclovir to keep your kidneys working well. Drinking water is best, but hot drinks and non-alcoholic cold drinks are also suitable.
- Aciclovir could cause your skin to become more sensitive to sunlight than it is usually. Avoid strong sunlight and sunbeds, and use a sun cream with a high sun protection factor until you know how your skin reacts.
- If you have been prescribed aciclovir for genital herpes, do not have sex while you have sores or blisters. Even after these have healed, there is still a small chance that you may pass on the virus when you have sex – using a condom reduces this risk.
- If you are having an operation or any other medical treatment, tell the person carrying out the treatment that you are taking aciclovir.
Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains some of the more common ones associated with aciclovir. The best place to find a full list of the side-effects which can be associated with your medicine, is from the manufacturer’s printed information leaflet supplied with the medicine. Alternatively, you can find an example of a manufacturer’s information leaflet in the reference section below. Speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following continue or become troublesome.
Aciclovir dosage
The dose of the medicine will definitely depend on the severity of your infection. The doctor will decide how to take the tablets or when to apply the creams. The drug comes in 200 to 800 mg strengths. It is taken twice to 5 times in a day as advised. The medicine can be taken with or without food, but the spacing between the does should be equal.
When using the medicine, the course of the medicine must be completed that normally completes in 5 to 10 days. If the course is not completed and the medicine is stopped before that then the infection may come back.
Zovirax tablets
Sometimes zovirax tablet are prescribed by the doctor. Acyclovir zovirax is a generic form of the medicine. It comes in tablet form, and it is water soluble. One can dissolve the tablet in water to take it.
Side effects of aciclovir
The medicine has minimal side effects. However of you get some they may be, itches, rash, dizziness, stomach pain, tiredness, headache, and nausea.
You must be drinking plenty of water while being on the medicine. You must also not have sex if you are suffering from herpes and on the medicine. The skin can get very sensitive during application of the medical cream. Hence applying enough sunscreen cream or lotion before going out in sun is advised.
Acyclovir cream buy online
This is a prescription medicine, and you may buy it from any drug store with the prescription. However there are some over the counter formulas too of the drug. If you are interested to get some acyclovir cream over the counter, then you would get the same online. There would be a price list, where you may check the acyclovir cream price. You may get good discounts on creams and ointments when you choose a good online portal for buying. The aciclovir cream and ointments can be brought from any part of the world if you are availing an OTC cream online.
How to store aciclovir
- Keep all medicines out of the reach and sight of children.
- Store in a cool, dry place, away from direct heat and light.
