Information about Acyclovir

Acyclovir Uses

How Acyclovir works

Acyclovir is an antiviral medication. It prevents the multiplication of virus in human cells. This stops the virus from producing new viruses and clears up your infection.

Common side effects of Acyclovir

Vomiting, Nausea, Rash, Itching, Dry skin, Burning sensation, General discomfort, Urticaria, Inflammation of vein, Dry lips, Skin peeling
CONTENT DETAILS
Written By
MDS, BDS
Reviewed By
MD (Pharmacology), MBBS
Last updated
03 Aug 2020 | 06:42 AM (UTC)

We provide you with authentic, trustworthy and revelant information

Want to know more

Available Medicine for Acyclovir

AcivirCipla Ltd
48 to ₹59111 variant(s)
ZoviraxGlaxo SmithKline Pharmaceuticals Ltd
37 to ₹2105 variant(s)
OcuvirFDC Ltd
33 to ₹21210 variant(s)
HerpikindMankind Pharma Ltd
85 to ₹4054 variant(s)
HerperaxMicro Labs Ltd
42 to ₹3444 variant(s)
AxovirSamarth Life Sciences Pvt Ltd
54 to ₹5915 variant(s)
TrikaseEast India Pharmaceutical Works Ltd
50 to ₹2654 variant(s)
UnivirUnited Biotech Pvt Ltd
3611 variant(s)
VirTroikaa Pharmaceuticals Ltd
141 to ₹4712 variant(s)
NeoclovirNeon Laboratories Ltd
387 to ₹4452 variant(s)

Expert advice for Acyclovir

  • Acyclovir helps in the treatment of herpes, chickenpox, and shingles.
  • Do not skip any doses and finish the full course of treatment even if you feel better.
  • Drink plenty of water while on treatment with this medicine. This helps to prevent dehydration and kidney damage.
  • If you have genital herpes, use barrier methods (condoms) for contraception and avoid sexual contact while the sores are present.
  • Inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to conceive or breastfeeding.

Frequently asked questions for Acyclovir

Acyclovir

Q. Will I get cured after taking Acyclovir for shingles?

Acyclovir is an antiviral medicine effective against herpes simplex and varicella zoster viruses. It does not cure infections caused by these viruses but helps to minimize the symptoms and shorten the duration of infection. It does not remove the viruses from the body but prevents the viruses from dividing and spreading.

Q. Does Acyclovir prevent transmission of infection to others?

No, you can infect other people, even while you are being treated with Acyclovir. Herpes infections are contagious, so avoid letting infected areas come into contact with other people. Avoid touching your eyes after touching an infected area. Wash your hands frequently to prevent transmitting the infection to others. You should practice safe sex by using condoms. You should not have sex if you have genital sores or blisters.

Q. What are the serious side effects of Acyclovir?

Serious side effects are rare, but if you experience them, you should seek medical advice right away. These rare side effects include hives, blistering or peeling rash, yellow skin or eyes, unusual bruising or bleeding, loss of consciousness, fits, difficulty in breathing, hallucinations and swelling of the face, tongue, lips or throat.

Q. Do elderly patients need to be more careful while taking Acyclovir?

Older adults (over age 65 years) tend to experience more side effects when taking Acyclovir. The reason being, their kidneys do not flush the drug out of their system as quickly as a younger person’s kidneys would do. Elderly patients should drink plenty of water while taking Acyclovir, and their kidney function should be monitored. These patients should be given a lower dose and should be monitored for neurological problems.

Q. What can happen if somebody takes more than the recommended dose of Acyclovir accidentally?

Accidental, repeated overdoses of oral Acyclovir over several days have resulted in nausea, vomiting, confusion and headache. Consult your doctor in case of overdose.

Q. Can I get resistant to Acyclovir treatment?

Patients with advanced HIV disease or patients with an impaired immunity have reported resistance to Acyclovir. If you are not responding to Acyclovir, the possibility of drug resistance should be checked.

Q. Is hair loss caused due to Acyclovir permanent?

Hair loss is an uncommon side effect of Acyclovir. It stops when the medicine is discontinued.

INDIA’S LARGEST HEALTHCARE PLATFORM

260m+
Visitors
31m+
Orders Delivered
1800+
Cities
Get the link to download App
Reliable

All products displayed on Tata 1mg are procured from verified and licensed pharmacies. All labs listed on the platform are accredited

Secure

Tata 1mg uses Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) 128-bit encryption and is Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) compliant

Affordable

Find affordable medicine substitutes, save up to 50% on health products, up to 80% off on lab tests and free doctor consultations.

LegitScript approved
India's only LegitScript and ISO/ IEC 27001 certified online healthcare platform

Know more about Tata 1mgdownArrow

Access medical and health information

Tata 1mg provides you with medical information which is curated, written and verified by experts, accurate and trustworthy. Our experts create high-quality content about medicines, diseases, lab investigations, Over-The-Counter (OTC) health products, Ayurvedic herbs/ingredients, and alternative remedies.

Order medicines online

Get free medicine home delivery in over 1800 cities across India. You can also order Ayurvedic, Homeopathic and other Over-The-Counter (OTC) health products. Your safety is our top priority. All products displayed on Tata 1mg are procured from verified and licensed pharmacies.

Book lab tests

Book any lab tests and preventive health packages from certified labs and get tested from the comfort of your home. Enjoy free home sample collection, view reports online and consult a doctor online for free.

Consult a doctor online

Got a health query? Consult doctors online from the comfort of your home for free. Chat privately with our registered medical specialists to connect directly with verified doctors. Your privacy is guaranteed.