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Acyclovir is available as a 200 mg oral capsule and tablet, a 200 mg/5 ml oral suspension, and a 5% topical cream and ointment.

Acyclovir is an antiviral that is used as follows:

• Oral capsule, tablet, and suspension:
• Genital herpes
• Shingles (herpes zoster)
• Chickenpox (varicella) in people 2 years and older
• Ointment:
• Genital herpes in adults
• HSV infections in adults with a weakened immune system
• Cream
• Cold sores (herpes labialis) that keep coming back in people 12 years and older

Acyclovir is an antiviral medication that stops a protein (an enzyme called DNA polymerase) in the herpes simplex virus (HSV) and varicella-zoster virus (VZV). Without this enzyme, the virus can’t make copies of itself.

Acyclovir is dosed as follows:

• Oral capsule, tablet, and suspension
• Shingles: The typical dose is 800 mg by mouth 5 times a day (about every 4 hours) for 7 to 10 days
• Genital herpes: The typical dose is 200 mg by mouth 5 times a day (about every 4 hours) for 5 to 10 days.
• Suppressive/daily therapy: The typical dose is 400 mg by mouth twice a day for up to a year
• Chickenpox: Children (ages 2 to 18 years old and up to 40 kg): Your child’s provider will determine their dose is based on your child’s body weight. The typical dose is 20 mg/kg body weight by mouth 4 times a day for 5 days
• Adults and children over 40 kg: The typical dose is 800 mg by mouth 4 times a day for 5 days
• Ointment
• Genital herpes and HSV infections in people with a weakened immune system: Apply to the affected area(s) every 3 hours (6 times per day) for 7 days. Make sure to use enough to cover all lesions (use one-half inch ribbon of medication per 4 square inches of area). It’s recommended to use a rubber glove when applying to help prevent spreading the infection
• Cream
• Cold Sores: Apply to the affected area(s) 5 times a day for 4 days
• Your dose might differ if you have kidney problems

Acyclovir is a safe and effective treatment when used for FDA licensed indications. However, like all medications, they may give you unwanted side effects. You should always discuss potential side effects with your physician to ensure the medication is suitable and right for you.

Common side effects of Acyclovir:

• Oral capsules, tablets, and suspension
• Feeling unwell
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Headache
• Cream
• Application site reaction
• Ointment
• Burning and stinging at application site

Serious side effects are rare with Acyclovir.

The following medications may interact with Acyclovir:

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines:

• Dichlorphenamide
• Foscarnet
• Leflunomide
• Nitisinone
• Teriflunomide

Various FDA-approved generic manufacturers

There are no adequate and well-controlled studies with Acyclovir in pregnant women. Acyclovir should be used during
pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.

• Zovirax