Acyclovir is a modern antiviral medication, especially effective against herpes, chickenpox. The drug destroys the protein of the virus, stopping the disease, preventing further relapses.
Material Content:
Description of the dosage form, composition
There are various forms of Acyclovir on the pharmaceutical market:
- Acyclovir eye ointment, which contains 3% of the active substance;
- Acyclovir cream for external use, consisting of 5% of the active substance;
- Acyclovir tablets containing 200, 400 mg of the active ingredient;
- Acyclovir powder for the preparation of injection solutions.
All forms of medication have the same active ingredient, acyclovir. In addition to it, each type of product has auxiliary components:
- eye ointment contains petroleum jelly to provide better permeability;
- the cream consists of liquid paraffin, propylene glycol, cetostearyl alcohol, purified water;
- to ensure better digestibility, tablets contain talc, calcium, collidone, silicon dioxide;
- powder for dilution includes sodium chloride.
On a note. The type of excipients may vary slightly from different pharmaceutical companies.
pharmachologic effect
Acyclovir belongs to the group of drugs that are active against viruses. It affects cells affected by herpes. This is a synthetic nucleoside analog, characterized by high selectivity, and it is also low toxic.The component is able to integrate into the DNA of the pathogen, block its further spread.
When applied externally, the drug prevents the formation of new rashes, the appearance of complications, eliminates pain, and accelerates the formation of a crust on the virus-affected area. Frequently repeated treatment courses with Acyclovir lead to treatment failure due to the emergence of insensitive viruses.
Instructions for use indicate the possibility of using Acyclovir in the presence of the following violations:
- cold sores on the lips;
- herpetic rashes on the genitals;
- herpes on the mucous membranes;
- chickenpox;
- herpes zoster.
Acyclovir with chickenpox, lichen is part of a comprehensive treatment. And also its purpose in the aggregate of therapeutic methods for people suffering from HIV infection is justified.
Acyclovir for external use does not penetrate the bloodstream, is active in the first day. With further application, its effectiveness only increases. A medication in the form of tablets is excreted through the urinary system. The metabolic process occurs in the liver.
Method of application, dosage for children and adults
The method of application depends on the type of herpes, its localization, the form of Acyclovir.
Therapy of herpes formed on the eye is carried out by means of an eye ointment, which is also allowed to be used for barley, keratitis. Means for local application is laid over the lower eyelid. At the same time, it must be pulled back, and a small amount of ointment should be placed in the conjunctival sac.
Acyclovir ointment is applied 5 times a day. The interval between procedures should be at least 5 hours. The treatment lasts about 3 days. If necessary, you can extend the course to 5 days. It is forbidden to wear contact lenses during therapy to avoid secondary infection.
Important! Acyclovir of any form can be used for children from 5 years of age.
To combat the herpetic infection that has formed on the lip in the genital area, you should use Acyclovir in the form of an external cream. The greatest effect can be achieved if treatment is started at the first symptomatology. When there is a burning sensation, numbness, itching.
Not only the affected area is treated, but also a small area around it. The cream is applied in a thin layer. Procedures are carried out after 4 hours. It usually takes 5 days to cure an infection. If the patient has an extensive infectious process, then a 10-day course may be required.
Important! To prevent secondary infection, Acyclovir should be applied with disposable cotton swabs.
For the treatment of chickenpox, the treatment of herpetic eruptions in people with immunodeficiency, Acyclovir is prescribed for oral administration. And also taking pills is indicated if a person suffers from frequent relapses of herpes. A drug in this form fights the virus more productively.
The following dosage is usually recommended:
- for the treatment of adults, 1 tablet is prescribed. up to 5 times a day;
- for children under the age of 6, the dosage is ½ table. up to 4 times a day;
- for the treatment of children over 6 years of age, it is indicated to drink 1 tablet up to 4 times a day;
- in order to prevent relapse, in the presence of initial symptoms, adults are prescribed to drink 1 tablet. twice, for children - ½ table. twice a day;
- rectal herpes therapy requires an increase in dosage. For adults, they are prescribed to drink 4 tablets. up to 6 times a day. For children, the dose is calculated by the doctor individually;
- lichen is treated with 800 mg of Acyclovir, which is drunk 4 times a day.
Therapy lasts 5 days. In the presence of extensive rashes, it is possible to increase the treatment course up to 10 days. The tablets are washed down with a sufficient amount of clean water.
Note. During treatment with Acyclovir, it is recommended to drink plenty of fluids.
With an extremely extensive infection, droppers are prescribed with Acyclovir diluted in saline or water for injection.To eliminate herpes, the drug is administered intravenously four times a day at the rate of 5 mg of the drug per 1 kg of patient weight. Treatment of meningoencephalitis infection requires the introduction of 10 mg per 1 kg of body weight up to 4 times per day. Usually, therapy lasts for a week. But it is possible to increase its duration based on the condition of the patient.
During pregnancy and lactation
The use of Acyclovir during the carrying of a child is not allowed. The drug easily penetrates the placenta and is able to harm the fetus. This is especially true in the first trimester of pregnancy.
If a nursing woman has herpes, then the question of treatment with Acyclovir should be discussed with a doctor, since the active component passes through breast milk to the baby. You may have to translate the baby on artificial feeding.
Interaction with other drugs
Caution must be exercised when taking Acyclovir with other medicines:
- with immunostimulants, the effectiveness of Acyclovir increases;
- with cyclosporine, a negative effect on the kidneys increases;
- with antibiotics, the likelihood of side effects from the urinary system is high;
- with zidovudine, consciousness may be impaired.
It is not recommended to use Acyclovir with other drugs for the treatment of herpes. Since a brighter development of side effects is possible.
Contraindications, side effects, overdose
An absolute contraindication to treatment with Acyclovir is:
- the presence of hypersensitivity to the active substance;
- hypersensitivity to lactose;
- pregnancy;
- age up to 3 years.
Requires the presence of a kidney failure in a patient. In this case, dosage adjustment of the drug may be required.
If Acyclovir is taken strictly according to the doctor’s recommendation, do not exceed the allowable dosage, then it is well tolerated by patients.
If the dose is exceeded, negative reactions may develop in the form of:
- nausea
- diarrhea
- loss of appetite;
- Dizziness
- emotional overexcitation;
- headache;
- drowsiness
- apathy;
- weaknesses;
- tremor of limbs;
- heart palpitations;
- lowering blood pressure;
- shortness of breath
- itching
- redness of the skin;
- urticaria;
- muscle pain.
In case of side effects and a deterioration in the general well-being of the patient, treatment with Acyclovir should be discontinued, consult a doctor.
Analogs of Acyclovir
There are many analogues of Acyclovir in the active ingredient.
If necessary, the use of the following drugs is allowed:
- Zovirax;
- Acigerpine;
- Cyclovir;
- Herperax;
- Vivorax;
- Herpevira;
- Lisavira;
- Provirsana;
- Medovira.
Selection of analogues should be carried out only by a doctor, especially for patients suffering from renal diseases. Some drugs have a more aggressive composition, which increases the number of side effects and the number of contraindications.
