Zovirax Acyclovir 400 mg 35 Tabs

What is Zovirax?

Zovirax is an antiviral drug. The active ingredient in Zovirax is Acyclovir. The drug slows down the growth and spread of the herpes virus in the body by affecting its viral cells at the DNA level. This drug does not completely cure herpes, but it reduces the symptoms of the infection, as well as its acute course.

Zovirax 400 mg is used not only for treatment, but also for the prevention of relapses. The drug effectively eliminates the skin rash and the focus of inflammation, prevents the spread of the viral pathogen (insemination), and reduces complications of herpes.

 What are the side effects of Zovirax?

Common side effects after taking Zovirax (Acyclovir) include symptoms such as:

1. Digestive system: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain; increased bilirubin levels and liver enzyme activity.

2. Hematopoietic organs: anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia.

3. Urinary system: increased urea and creatinine levels in the blood; acute renal failure.

4. CNS: headache; dizziness, confusion, hallucinations, drowsiness, seizures, coma.

5. Allergic reactions: rash, photosensitization, urticaria, itching. Rarely – shortness of breath, angioedema, anaphylaxis.

6. Other: rapid fatigue; diffuse hair loss.

7. Changes in behavior (motor restlessness and emotional agitation, confusion, hallucinations). 

Side effects occur mostly if patients don’t follow the doctor's recommendations. If you have taken a high dose of Zovirax and are experiencing the above symptoms, you should seek emergency medical attention as soon as possible.

What is Zovirax used for?

Zovirax tablets are prescribed for the following conditions:

• treatment of skin and mucous membrane infections caused by herpes simplex virus, including primary and recurrent genital herpes;

• prevention of infections caused by herpes simplex virus (HPV) in immunodeficient patients;

• treatment of infections caused by Varicella zoster virus (VZV, Varicella zoster virus), including chickenpox and herpes zoster;

• treatment of infections caused by herpes simplex virus (HPV) in newborns;

• prevention of cytomegalovirus infection (CMV) in bone marrow transplant recipients.

Zovirax tablets are available in the pharmacy with a doctor's prescription. If you want to buy Zovirax without a prescription, order it from our online pharmacy. The price of the drug includes a prescription from a doctor who works at the pharmacy staff.

Zovirax: Dosage

Zovirax is used in a dose of 200 mg 4 times per day at 6-hour intervals (or, for convenience – in a quantity of 400 mg 2 times per day at 12-hour intervals).

Treatment will be effective even after reducing the dose of the drug to 200 mg 3 times a day at 8-hour intervals, or even 2 times a day at 12-hour intervals.

In some cases, radical improvement is observed after taking a daily dose of 800 mg of the drug.

To monitor possible changes in the natural course of the disease, therapy with Zovirax should be periodically interrupted at intervals of 6-12 months.

If necessary, in patients with severe immunodeficiency or reduced intestinal absorption, the single dose may be doubled to 400 mg or an appropriate dose for intravenous administration may be used.

Treatment of infections caused by Varicella zoster virus.

Zovirax tablets should be used at a dose of 800 mg 5 times a day at approximately 4-hour intervals, except at night. The duration of treatment is 7 days.

Treatment should be started as soon as possible after the onset of the disease, the result will be better if the therapy is started immediately after the appearance of the rash.

Patients with severe immunodeficiency (e.g., after a bone marrow transplant) or with reduced absorption in the intestine are better served by intravenous drug administration.

Treatment of chickenpox

For children aged 3 to 6 years, it is recommended 400 mg 4 times a day, and ages 6 years, the dose is 800 mg 4 times a day.

More precisely, the dose of the drug can be calculated by the body weight of the child – 20 mg/kg body weight per day, distributed in 4 doses. The maximum daily dose is 800 mg. The duration of treatment is 5 days.

How to use and dosage of Zovirax (Acyclovir) for herpes

For the treatment of herpes virus types 1 and 2

Adults. 1 tablet in a dose of 200 mg 5 times a day with an interval of 4 hours between doses. The course of treatment is on average up to 10 days. The maximum dose taken per day is 1000 mg (5 pills).

Children For children from 3 years of age: 3 to 6 years – 400 mg (2 tablets) per day.

For children from 6 years old, it is used in the dosage as for adults. The course of treatment is established by a doctor. On average, it is used for up to 5 days.

For treatment of herpes virus types 3 and 4:

Adults: Prescribed in a dose of 800 mg up to 5 times a day (4-hour interval between doses). The duration of treatment is determined by the doctor, but on average the course is about 10 days.

Children of 3 to 6 years of age: 400 mg (2 pills) 4 times a day. Children from 6 years old are prescribed the same dosage as adults.

In old age, the process of elimination of the drug from the body (clearance) slows down, so you should take care to drink plenty of fluids during treatment with Zovirax (Acyclovir), as well as in case of impaired renal function, reduce the dose of the drug.

It is worth remembering that for each person, based on the state of health and the specific type of herpes virus, the dose may vary, so Zovirax Acyclovir should be prescribed by a doctor.

Zovirax for herpes

Zovirax generic is not an active ingredient by itself. Zovirax (Acyclovir) acquires its antiviral activity only after entering the infected cells, where (under the influence of the "viral thymidine kinase" enzyme) Acyclovir transforms first into Acyclovir monophosphate and then into Acyclovir triphosphate. The latter is the active component that inhibits the reproduction of the herpes simplex virus - by incorporating acyclovir-triphosphate into the viral DNA.

It is important to know that herpes infections are contagious, even if you are treated with Acyclovir, you can still infect other people, so avoid contact of infected areas with other people. If you touch an infected area, do not touch the mucous membranes of your eyes with your hands. Wash your hands with soap and water as often as possible to avoid spreading the infection.

With genital herpes, even during treatment with Acyclovir, the risk of your sexual partner being infected is not reduced. It can still be contagious, even if you do not have the characteristic symptoms.

Overdose

Overdose symptoms. Zovirax is only partially absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract. No toxic effects have been established with occasional single oral doses of up to 20 g of Zovirax. Gastrointestinal (nausea, vomiting) and neurological (headache and confusion) disorders have been reported with repeated oral doses in excess of recommended doses over several days.

Dyspnea, diarrhea, renal dysfunction, agitation, as well as confusion, hallucinations, seizures, and coma may sometimes be observed.

Treatment: patients require close medical observation in order to detect possible symptoms of intoxication. Zovirax is excreted with hemodialysis, so hemodialysis may be used if symptoms of intoxication develop.