Acyclovir in various pharmaceutical forms can be seen on display shelves in virtually any pharmacy. The patented preparation is issued in the form of tablets, ointments and cream for external use, ophthalmic ointment and lyophilizate for injection solutions. Almost everyone knows what the therapeutic ointment is used for, but not everyone has an idea of what the acyclovir tablets help with, and how they should be taken.
Acyclovir in tablets is used to treat a number of infections caused by various types of herpes virus, including herpes zoster , chicken pox, genital herpes, eye lesions of herpetic nature. The undoubted merit of the tablet form of acyclovir is the high efficiency when taking the medicine at the initial stage of the disease and at the same time a small cost of the drug.
Action tablets Acyclovir
When it enters the tissue, acyclovir, under the influence of the enzymes produced by the virus, becomes an active substance and penetrates into the affected cells, while integrating into the structure of the viral DNA, which blocks the multiplication of viruses. At the initial stage of the infection, the drug promotes the localization of foci of rash, for which Acyclovir tablets are used together with the eponymous ointment. Often, the prescribing doctor prescribes the tablet form of the drug when herpetic rashes spread throughout the body, and one ointment to stop the process is not enough.
How to take Acyclovir in tablets?
Acyclovir in tablets is taken with food or after eating, squeezed with water. Dosage tablets acyclovir specialist determines individually, based on the severity of the disease and the prevalence of rashes on the patient's body. But the general recommendations are as follows:
- Adults are prescribed 200 mg 5 times a day for a weekly course.
- Severely patient dosage is preserved, but the course of treatment is prolonged to 10 days.
- With severe immunodeficiency, including AIDS, a single dose is doubled (400 mg).
- For the prevention of recurrence appoint a dose of 200 mg 3 - 4 times a day.
- Children up to 3 years of the drug given in exceptional cases 4 times a day for 5 days, at a rate of 20 mg / kg of weight.
- Children 3 - 6 years - 100 mg 4 times a day.
- Children after 6 years of age - 200 mg 4 times a day.
Special instructions to receive Acyclovir
Acyclovir tablets are well tolerated, but sometimes there may be side effects when taking the drug:
- nausea;
- vomiting;
- indigestion disorder;
- allergic reactions to the skin.
Attention can be disturbed, sluggishness, weakness can be observed. In renal failure requires a special adjustment for dosage and regimen of Acyclovir. Contraindicated use of the drug with increased sensitivity to the active substance and during lactation. Pregnant women are prescribed medication if the infection is a threat to maternal health, which is not comparable with the risk for the fetus. There is no direct contraindication to simultaneous administration of Acyclovir and alcohol tablets. But doctors recommend to exclude alcohol for the entire period of treatment with medications, as the load on the liver increases, and allergic manifestations intensify.
Analogues of Acyclovir tablets
Among the acyclovir analogues in tablets, it is possible to isolate drugs containing acyclovir as the main active substance:
- Valaciclovir;
- Famciclovir;
- Virolex;
- Cyclovir;
- Zovirax;
- Gerpevir.
Pharmacists can also offer a number of other proprietary drugs that are of sufficiently high efficacy when protecting the human body from various types of herpes.