Acyclovir Information

Acyclovir information section contains essential Acyclovir facts which to help you gain useful information about the benefits of Acyclovir. The following information is a summary about Acyclovir. It is not intended to replace a doctors instructions.

	Acyclovir Related Links :
Acyclovir Patient Information
	Herpes Related Links :
Herpes Information & Herpes Drugs Genital Herpes Information Herpes Photo Gallery

IMPORTANT NOTE

The following information is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist or other healthcare professional. It should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. Consult your healthcare professional before using this drug.

ACYCLOVIR INFORMATION

Brand Name: Acyclovir®

Generic Name: Acyclovir

ABOUT HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS

Over 80 known viruses exist within the Herpes family. Of these, 8 are known to cause disease in humans, the most common being Herpes Simplex Virus Type-1 (HSV-1) and type-2 (HSV-2). HSV-1 and HSV-2 look identical under the microscope, and either type can infect the mouth or genitals. Usually, however, HSV-1 occurs above the waist, and HSV-2 below the waist :

Herpes Simplex Virus Type-1 (HSV-1) - commonly causes herpes labialis (also called oral herpes, cold sores or fever blisters), which is a highly infectious open sore that crust over before healing. Although less probable, HSV-1 can also cause genital herpes.

Herpes Simplex Virus Type-2 (HSV-2) - a contagious viral infection primarily causing genital herpes in men and women. The telltale signs and symptoms of genital herpes include recurrent clusters of blisters, bumps and rashes in the genital areas. HSV-2 can also be responsible for herpes labialis (cold sores), although less often than HSV-1.

Consult your physician or pharmacist for further information.

TRANSMISSION OF HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS

Unlike viruses such as influenza, which can be transmitted through the air, Herpes Simplex Viruses require physical contact. They are frequently transmitted through mouth-to-mouth contact (in the case of HSV-1) or genital-to-genital contact (in the case of HSV-2), although other means of transmission, including hand-to-genital and mouth-to-genital contact, are possible.

ACYCLOVIR USES

Acyclovir is used to treat the symptoms of chickenpox, shingles, herpes virus infections of the genitals (sex organs), the skin, the brain, and mucous membranes (lips and mouth), and widespread herpes virus infections in newborns. Acyclovir is also used to prevent recurrent genital herpes infections. Although Acyclovir will not cure herpes, it does help relieve the pain and discomfort and helps the sores heal faster. Consult your physician or pharmacist for further information.

HOW TO TAKE ACYCLOVIR

Follow the directions for using this medicine provided by your doctor. Take this medicine with food or milk if it upsets your stomach. Store this medicine at room temperature, away from light and moisture. To clean up your infection completely, continue taking this medicine for the full course of treatment even if you feel better in a few days. Do not miss any doses. If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once. Contact your physician or pharmacist for further information if you have any questions or concerns about using this medication.

ACYCLOVIR SIDE EFFECTS

Acyclovir Side Effects - See Here

ACYCLOVIR PRECAUTIONS

If your symptoms do not improve within a few days or if they become worse, check with your doctor. If you are using this medicine for genital herpes, begin using it as soon as you notice symptoms (pain, burning, blisters) of an infection. Use a condom during sexual intercourse. If you plan on becoming pregnant, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using this medicine during pregnancy. If you are or may be pregnant, check with your doctor for instructions on using this medicine during pregnancy. Before you begin taking any new medicine, either prescription or over-the-counter, check with your doctor or pharmacist. This medicine is excreted in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you are using this medicine, consult your physician or pharmacist for further information.

ACYCLOVIR INTERACTIONS

The use of the following medications can increase the risk of side effects during Acyclovir treatment, particularly if there is kidney damage or disease present. Your doctor may still prescribe certain medications together even if there is a potential for reaction, but with an adjusted dosage to ensure minimum likelihood of side effects.

• Acetaminophen (Tylenol) - or any combination pain medication containing acetaminophen, like Percocet (oxycodone, acetaminophen), or Vicodin (hydrocodone, acetaminophen).
• Aspirin - or an combination pain medication containing it, like Fioricet (butalbital, acetaminophen, and caffeine), Fiorinal (butalbital, aspirin, and caffeine), or Talwin Compound (aspirin, pentazocine).
• Anti-inflammatories like Celebrex (celecoxib) and Vioxx (rofecoxib), or combination medications containing non-steroidal anti-inflammatories like Vicoprofen (hydrocodone, ibuprofen).
• Benemid (probenecid)
• BiCNU (carmustine)
• Cuprimine (penicillamine)
• Cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune)
• Desferal (deferoxamine)
• Gold salts
• Interferon (Roferon-A)
• Lithium (Lithane, Lithobid)
• Mexate (methotrexate)
• Mithracin (plicamycin)
• Narcotic pain medications - These are safe to mix with Acyclovir, but often they come as combination products containing aspirin or anti-inflammatories. Speak to your doctor about safer dosages or alternate treatments.
• Platinol (cisplatin)
• Retrovir (zidovudine)
• Thiola (tiopronin)
• Zanosar (streptozocin)

DOSAGES

Acyclovir is available only with your doctor's prescription, in the following dosage forms :

• Oral
• Capsules (U.S. and Canada)
• Oral suspension (U.S. and Canada)
• Tablets (U.S. and Canada)
• Parenteral Injection (U.S. and Canada)

The dosages below are for the Zovirax brand of Acyclovir, the dosages of other products may differ. Consult your physician or pharmacist for further information.

• Capsules: 200mg blue capsules printed with “Wellcome Zovirax 200”.
• Liquid Suspension: 200mg/ 5 ml, off-white, banana flavored liquid.
• Ointment: 50 mg/1 g in 3 gram and 15 gram tubes.
• Tablets: 400mg shield shaped tablets, white, marked with “Acyclovir” on one side and a triangle on the other; 800mg oval tablets, pale blue, marked “Acyclovir 800mg”.

• Herpes Zoster; 800mg by mouth every 4 hours, 5 times daily, up to 7-10 days.
• Genital Herpes Outbreak; 200mg by mouth every 4 hours, 5 times daily, for 10 days. Alternately, apply ointment every 3 hours, 6 times daily, for 7 days.
• Suppressive Therapy; 400mg by mouth twice daily, up to 1 year followed by re-evaluation.
• Intermittent Suppression; 200mg by mouth every 4 hours, 5 times daily, for 5 days at the first sign of recurrence.
• Chickenpox; 800mg by mouth 4 times daily, for 5 days. Children who weigh more than 40 kg. should take the adult dosage.
• Dosage in renal impairment: In the management of herpes simplex infections in patients with impaired renal function, the recommended oral doses will not lead to accumulation of acyclovir above levels that have been established by intravenous infusion. However for patients with severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance less than 10ml/minute) an adjustment of dosage to 200mg acyclovir twice daily at approximately twelve-hourly intervals is recommended. In the treatment of herpes zoster infections it is recommended to adjust the dosage to 800mg acyclovir twice daily at approximately twelve hourly intervals for patients with severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance less than 10ml/minute), and to 800mg acyclovir three times daily at intervals of approximately eight hours for patients with moderate renal impairment (creatinine clearance in the range 10-25ml/minute).

Your doctor may suggest a different dosage or frequency of use. Always follow the instructions on your prescription, taking your medication as often, and for as long, as suggested by the prescribing physician. Contact your physician or pharmacist for further information if you have any questions or concerns about using this medication.

ACYCLOVIR AND PREGNANCY

A post-marketing acyclovir pregnancy registry has documented pregnancy outcomes in women exposed to any formulation of Acyclovir. The birth defects described amongst Acyclovir exposed subjects have not shown any uniqueness or consistent pattern to suggest a common cause. Caution should however be exercised by balancing the potential benefits of treatment against any possible hazard. Following oral administration of 200 mg Acyclovir five times a day, acyclovir has been detected in breast milk at concentrations ranging from 0.6 to 4.1 times the corresponding plasma levels. These levels would potentially expose nursing infants to acyclovir dosages of up to 0.3 mg/kg/day. Caution is therefore advised if acyclovir is to be administered to a nursing woman. Systemic administration of Acyclovir in internationally accepted standard tests did not produce embryotoxic or teratogenic effects in rats, rabbits or mice. In a non-standard test in rats, foetal abnormalities were observed, but only following such high subcutaneous doses that maternal toxicity was produced. The clinical relevance of these findings is uncertain.

ACYCLOVIR AND CHILDREN

Dosage in children : Treatment of herpes simplex infections, and prophylaxis of herpes simplex infections in the immunocompromised : Children aged two years and over should be given adult dosages and children below the age of two years should be given half the adult dose.

Treatment of varicella infection :

• 6 years and over : 800mg Acyclovir four times daily.
• 2 - 5 years : 400mg Zovirax four times daily.
• Under 2 years : 200mg Zovirax four times daily.

ACYCLOVIR AND SENIORS

In the elderly, total acyclovir body clearance declines along with creatinine clearance. Adequate hydration of elderly patients taking high oral doses of Acyclovir should be maintained. Special attention should be given to dosage reduction in elderly patients with impaired renal function.

ACYCLOVIR NOTES

This medication is most effective if it is started within 48 hours of when the rash first appears.

ACYCLOVIR MISSED DOSE AND OVERDOSE

Acyclovir Missed Dose :

Try to take each dose at the scheduled time. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as remembered; do not take it if it is near the time for the next dose, instead, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double-upthe dose to catch up.

Acyclovir Overdose :

Acyclovir is only partly absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract. Patients have ingested overdoses of up to 20g acyclovir on a single occasion, usually without toxic effects. Accidental, repeated overdoses of oral acyclovir over several days have been associated with gastrointestinal effects (such as nausea and vomiting) and neurological effects (headache and confusion). Overdosage of intravenous Acyclovir has resulted in elevations of serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen and subsequent renal failure. Neurological effects including confusion, hallucinations, agitation, seizures and coma have been described in association with intravenous overdosage.

Management : Patients should be observed closely for signs of toxicity. Haemodialysis significantly enhances the removal of acyclovir from the blood and may, therefore, be considered a management option in the event of symptomatic overdose.

ACYCLOVIR STORAGE

Store this medication at room temperature between 59 and 77 degrees F (15 to 25 degrees C) away from heat and light. Keep this and all medications out of the reach of children.

COMMON ACYCLOVIR BRAND NAMES

In the U.S. - Zovirax.
In Canada - Alti-Acyclovir, Avirax, Zovirax, Zovirax, Wellstat Pac, Zovirax, Zostab Pac.

COMMON MISSPELLINGS OF ACYCLOVIR

Acyclovir is often misspelled, as many people hear the word verbally and write it down or spell it the incorrect way. Here are a few of the most common misspellings for Acyclovir : Aciclovir, Acyclevor, Acyclovur, Acyklovir, Acyclover, Acycloveer and Acylovir. Full correct name of this drug is "Acyclovir".

MORE ACYCLOVIR INFORMATION SITES

Additional Acyclovir Information Sites :

Acyclovir Information at RXlist
Acyclovir Information at National Library of Medicine
Acyclovir Information at Ahealthyme Drug Database
Acyclovir FAQ at Druginfonet
Acyclovir Information at Yahoo Health
Acyclovir Information at Drugs.com

ACYCLOVIR MANUFACTURER
Generic Acyclovir is manufactured in the United States by several pharmaceutical companies :
Mylan Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the generic division of Mylan Laboratories Inc., offers 118 prescription products consisting of tablets, capsules, liquids and transdermal patches, covering 35 therapeutic categories. The Company's products are sold to pharmaceutical wholesalers, distributors and drug store chains by eight regional sales representatives. Web site : http://www.mylan.com		Contact Information : Mylan Laboratories Inc. 1500 Corporate Drive Suite 400 Canonsburg, PA 15317 Phone : 724-514-1800
Par Pharmaceutical, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Pharmaceutical Resources, Inc., is a manufacturer and distributor of a broad line of generic drugs. The Company's product line consists of prescription and over the counter products marketed principally in solid oral dosage form consisting of tablets, caplets and two-piece hard-shell capsules. In addition, the Company markets a product in the semi-solid form of a cream. Web site : http://www.parpharm.com		Contact Information : One Ram Ridge Road Spring Valley, NY 10977 Phone : 1-800-828-9393
Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Specialty pharmaceutical company, focused on developing, manufacturing and marketing brand and generic pharmaceutical products utilizing various drug delivery technologies. These technologies include solid dosage form, oral controlled release, transdermal, and oral transmucosal delivery systems. Web site : http://www.watsonpharm.com		Contact Information : 360 Mt. Kemble Avenue, P.O. Box 1953, Morristown, New Jersey 07962 Phone : (800) 272-5525 Fax : (909) 898-6743
Zovirax is a trademark of GlaxoSmithKline - one of the world's leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies - is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer. Web site : http://www.gsk.com		Contact Information : 5 Moore Drive P.O. Box 13398 Research Triangle Park NC 27709 Phone : 1-888-825-5249

Acyclovir Information

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