|
|
How should you take this medication?
Take acyclovir exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Use this medication as soon as possible after symptoms appear.
|
Precautions
Before taking acyclovir,
- tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to acyclovir, valacyclovir (Valtrex), or any other drugs.
- tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescripti
on and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially probenecid (Benemid), zidovudine (Retrovir, AZT), and vitamins.
- tell your doctor if you have or have ever had kidney disease, probl
ems with your immune system, human immunodeficiency virus infection (HIV), or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
- tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are br
east-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking acyclovir, call your doctor.
|
Other medical problems
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of using the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For acyclovir, the following should be con
sidered:
Allergies¡XTell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to acyclovir. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, s
ch as preservatives or dyes.
Pregnancy¡XTopical acyclovir has not been studied in pregnant women. However, this medicine has not been shown to cause birth defects or other problems in animal
tudies using mice, rats, or rabbits, except when given in very high doses in a study using rats.
|
|
|
|
Side Effects
Parenteral:
1. Renal toxicity; precipitation of acyclovir crystals can occur in renal tubules if the maximum solubility of free acyclovir (2.5mg/ml at 37?C in water) is exceeded or if the drug is
given by bolus injection. Serum creatinine and BUN rise and creatinine clearance decreases.
2. Encephalopathic changes: Approximately 1% of patients receiving IV acyclovir manifested encephalopath
ic changes characterized by lethargy, obtundation, tremors, confusion, hallucinations, agitation, seizures or coma.
3. Other: transient elevation of serum creatinine; rash or hives; diaphoresis; h
ematuria; hypotension; headache and nausea; thrombocytosis.
|
What is this medicine
Acyclovir is used to treat herpes infections of the skin, lip, and genitals; herpes zoster (shingles); and chickenpox. It does not cure herpes infections but decreases pain and itching and promotes he
aling.
Topical acyclovir does not prevent the recurrence of sores but may decrease pain and itching if applied when the earliest symptoms first appear. Oral acyclovir decreases the frequency
and severity of recurrent sores, but it is used only by people with severe herpes infections because of possible adverse effects.
|
What should I do if I forget a dose?
If you miss a dose, take as soon as remembered; do not take if it is almost time for the next dose, instead, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not "double-up" the dose to
catch up.
|
|
