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Other Medicines
Inform your doctor if you are taking any of the following:
- Lithium (e.g., Lithane) or
- Methotrexate or
- Other medicine for infection or
- Penicillamine (e.g., Cuprimine)
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Precautions
If you are or will be breast-feeing while you are using this medicine, check with your doctor or pharmacist to discuss the risks to your baby.
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Missing Dose
Iit is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose of either the ointment or oral medication to make up for a missed one.
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What Is It
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.
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What side effects may occur?
Oral: (GI side effects reduced if take with meals)
Short-term therapy: nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, headache, dizziness, fatigue, skin rash, edema. inguinal adenopahty, anorexia, leg pain, medicatio
n taste, sore throat.
Long-term: nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, headache, vertigo, insomina, irritability, depression, skin rash, acne. accelerated hair loss, arthralgia, fever, palpitations, sore thr
oat, muscle cramps, mestrual abnormalities, lyphadenopathy.
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How to Use
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.
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