Acyclovir: instructions for use of tablets and what they are needed for, price, reviews, analogues

Can Acyclovir be applied to the eyes? This is a common question that patients ask. Let's look at it in more detail.

Diseases of the visual organs greatly change human life, disrupting its usual rhythm and preventing it from working fully. Due to a number of ophthalmological pathologies, you can even go blind. In cases of vision problems, doctors prescribe medications to patients that help not only eliminate the symptoms of various eye diseases, but also eliminate the root cause of their occurrence. One of the effective drugs is Acyclovir eye ointment.

This remedy has a detrimental effect on shingles and lichen simplex and blocks the virus at the genetic level. The drug is characterized by rapid absorption into the periocular tissues and cornea. The functioning of the viral infection is inhibited by creating the necessary concentration of fluid in the eye.

The active ingredient in Acyclovir eye ointment is micronized acyclovir. It also contains white Vaseline. The drug has its own indications, side effects and contraindications. Before starting treatment, you must read the information contained in the instructions.

Description and composition

The main active ingredient is acyclovir. It belongs to antiviral agents, and selectively acts on the human herpes virus, therefore it is widely used to treat diseases caused by this pathogen. Acyclovir is active against:

1. Herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2.
2. Epstein-Barr.
3. cytomegalovirus.
4. Varicella zoster.

Suppression of the vital activity of the virus is carried out by inhibiting the process of viral DNA division.

When treating herpes, acyclovir not only kills the virus, but also prevents the appearance of new rashes, reduces the severity of skin manifestations and possible complications, accelerates the healing of existing wounds, and reduces pain.

In addition to the direct effect on the cause of the disease, acyclovir has a stimulating effect on a person’s own immunity, which also speeds up recovery.

The maximum concentration is detected within 2 hours after taking the tablet. This rapid action allows you to effectively defeat the virus at the earliest stages of clinical manifestations.

The drug penetrates the placental and blood-brain barrier.

The short elimination period (about 3 hours) makes it necessary to take the drug frequently; the standard frequency of use is 5 times a day.

Contraindications

Acyclovir is contraindicated for use in a number of cases, which include:

• severe kidney disease;
• age up to 2 years;
• adrenal dysfunction;
• lactase deficiency and lactose intolerance;
• hypersensitivity to the components of the drug;
• pregnancy (exclusively as prescribed by a doctor, if the expected effect exceeds the risk to the fetus);
• neurological type deviations.

During lactation, taking tablets and infusion of solution is prohibited. If there is a need for treatment with tablets for breastfeeding, then the mother should stop feeding the baby breast milk for this period.

Indications for use

for adults

Acyclovir is not used to treat respiratory or other classical viral diseases. It is highly effective against herpes viruses, therefore the following diseases are indicated for use of the drug:

1. Herpetic lesions of the skin and mucous membranes, including genital herpes.
2. Shingles and chicken pox.
3. As part of complex therapy for various immunodeficiencies and brain transplantation.

Eating does not affect the absorption of the drug, so you can take it at any time. However, it is recommended to strictly observe the interval between tablets, which should be 4 hours, with the exception of night sleep. They are swallowed without chewing and washed down with a sufficient amount of liquid.

for children

In children, acyclovir is often prescribed for:

1. chicken pox.
2. herpes zoster.
3. herpetic stomatitis.

for pregnant women and during lactation

Acyclovir is not used to treat pregnant women. If it is necessary to take it during lactation, breastfeeding is stopped, since acyclovir accumulates in breast milk.

Cyclovir or acyclovir - which is better?

Active ingredient: Acyclovir. Available in tablets in a dosage of 200 mg. Serves for the treatment of infections caused by the herpes simplex virus, Varicella zoster (chickenpox, herpes zoster), for the prevention of cytomegalovirus infection after transplantation.

Table - existing forms of the drug acyclovir with prices *

Applications and dosages

for adults

I take the tablets several times a day during the daytime, taking a break during night sleep. The intervals between doses should be the same and can be 4, 6 or 12 hours.

For the treatment of herpes simplex, the standard single dose of acyclovir is 200 mg (1 tablet). It must be taken 5 times a day. The duration of treatment is 5 days, but at the discretion of the doctor it can be increased to 10 days. As a preventive therapy, acyclovir is taken in a daily dosage of 800 mg, which is divided into 2 or 4 doses of 400 or 200 mg of the drug, respectively. If the patient has a reduced immune status, the frequency of administration is increased to 4-5 times a day. The duration of prophylaxis in this category of patients is determined by the doctor. In the case of organ transplantation, the course can reach 6 weeks.

Herpes zoster and chicken pox require taking acyclovir 800 mg 5 times a day.

If renal function is impaired, the daily dose must be adjusted; as a rule, it is reduced by reducing the frequency of taking the drug.

For the treatment of herpetic rashes on the lip, systemic therapy with acyclovir tablets is not necessary. In such cases, topical application of the cream is sufficient. It has a high safety profile, does not cause side effects and belongs to the over-the-counter group of drugs. When applied topically, acyclovir is not absorbed into the systemic circulation.

To treat systemic infections or extensive lesions, intravenous administration of the drug may be required, for which it is used in the form of an infusion solution.

for children

To treat manifestations of herpes simplex, acyclovir is prescribed to children over 2 years of age in a daily dosage of 1000 mg, which is divided into 5 doses.

Children aged 1-2 years are prescribed half the daily dose for adults.

Treatment of chickenpox and herpes zoster requires an increased dose of acyclovir:

1. From 6 years – 800 mg 4 times a day.
2. 2-6 years – 400 mg 4 times a day.
3. 1-2 years – 200 mg 4 times a day. For small children, body weight is also taken into account when selecting the dose. The drug can be prescribed at the rate of 20 mg of active substance per kilogram of weight.

The duration of treatment is usually 7 days, which is enough to completely kill the virus.

for pregnant women and during lactation

Acyclovir is not used to treat these categories of patients.

Zovirax or acyclovir - which is better?

The active ingredient of the drug is Acyclovir. The dosage in the analogue remains standard – 200 mg. Indications, contraindications, dosage regimen of the analogue are identical to Acyclovir. The antiherpes medicine differs only in cost.

As a rule, the price in pharmacies starts from 150 rubles. It should be borne in mind that drug interactions with nephrotoxic drugs increase the risk of developing kidney failure.

Table - existing forms of the drug Zovirax with prices *

Interaction with other drugs

Before taking acyclovir, you must inform your doctor about all medications that the patient is taking. Acyclovir can increase its toxicity when taken simultaneously with nephrotoxic drugs (aminoglycosides, rifampicin, streptomycin, ciprofloxacin, a group of sulfonamide drugs, lithium preparations).

The elimination of acyclovir is slowed down when taken simultaneously with probenecid.

Damage to the nervous system is possible when combining acyclovir with zidovudine.

Question answer

What is better cream or ointment Acyclovir?

The cream is recommended for use on skin covered by clothing - it has a less greasy consistency than ointment, is characterized by a gentler effect on the affected area of ​​the body and is absorbed faster.

In turn, after applying the ointment, a protective film is formed that protects herpetic blisters from the effects of harmful microorganisms from the external environment. It should be applied to exposed affected areas such as lips.

What to do if Acyclovir does not help?

Acyclovir may not have a positive result if the type of virus is incorrectly determined and, as a result, the therapeutic regimen is incorrectly selected. If there is no effect after 3-4 days of therapy, you should consult your doctor and, if necessary, select an effective analogue.

The use of Acyclovir in the treatment of herpes not only helps to quickly eliminate the negative symptoms of the disease and reduce the number of relapses, but also reduces the risk of developing complications in internal organs and prevents their infection.

special instructions

The drug shows maximum effectiveness in the initial stages of the disease, so treatment should begin when the first clinical signs appear. The best results are observed in patients with normal immune status.

Repeated courses of treatment with acyclovir in people with immunodeficiency can lead to the development of viral resistance to the drug.

During treatment, it is necessary to provide the patient with sufficient drinking regime.

In elderly patients, the half-life of the drug may increase and dose adjustment may be required.

Lactose may be added as an excipient, which should be taken into account in patients with lactase deficiency or hereditary intolerance.

Reviews

Both specialists and doctors speak mostly positively about Acyclovir. They note the ease of use, affordable cost and quick results. To get the best effect from eye ointment treatment, you need to start therapy at the first symptoms of the disease. Only some patients mention as a disadvantage of the product that a burning sensation is felt in the first minutes of use.

The drug is prescribed only by a doctor after making an accurate diagnosis. Self-medication is unacceptable.

We reviewed the instructions for use of Acyclovir for the eyes.

Analogs

There are many analogues of acyclovir on the pharmaceutical market - Gerpevir, Zovirax, Geviran and Acyclovir from various manufacturers. The drug belongs to the inexpensive category - the average price is 150 rubles for 20 tablets. However, one package of the drug is not always enough for a course of treatment. According to patient reviews, acyclovir is very effective in combating herpetic rashes, including genital herpes and chickenpox in children.

If a person is prone to herpetic eruptions, treatment should begin in the prodromal period. This tactic often leads to timely control of the virus and prevention of clinical manifestations.

Side effects

Acyclovir drops, tablets and eye ointment have very few contraindications, which should be read before use. The only contraindication to the use of the drug is considered to be hypersensitivity to its composition. During pregnancy, eye drops can be used, but only on the recommendation of a doctor, when there are no risks to the fetus.

The drug Acyclovir is an eye ointment that is well tolerated, as evidenced by multiple patient reviews. In isolated cases and only in cases of hypersensitivity to the composition, itching in the eyes, burning, and rash on the skin of the face may be present. If such symptoms appear, you should stop taking the drug and consult a doctor. As a rule, after stopping the use of the ointment and taking an antihistamine, all symptoms disappear on the 2nd day.

Overdose

In case of serious overdose, hemodialysis is indicated. Significantly exceeding the dose can cause shortness of breath, neurological disorders, renal failure, vomiting, and convulsions. In severe cases, coma and lethargy are possible. In case of overdose, it is important to maintain vital functions, so the patient is urgently hospitalized.

It is believed that manifestations of overdose are possible with a single dose of more than 5 g of acyclovir. In such cases, it is imperative to monitor kidney function for several days after taking the high dose.

Do I need a prescription to buy acyclovir?

By affecting the gastrointestinal tract (gastrointestinal tract), this drug can cause:

• nausea;
• vomiting;
• diarrhea;
• abdominal pain, etc.

The most common side effects of this drug on blood cells are:

• hemolytic anemia (decrease in the concentration of hemoglobin and/or red blood cells in the peripheral blood due to their premature destruction);
• leukocytosis/leukopenia (increase or decrease in the number of leukocytes in peripheral blood);
• thrombocytosis/thrombocytopenia (increase or decrease in the number of platelets in peripheral blood);
• DIC syndrome (disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome due to a sharp decrease in the number of platelets and coagulation factors), etc.

on average 250 – 500 mg

• hematuria (blood in the urine);
• acute renal failure with rapid intravenous administration (a sharp decrease in the excretory function of the kidneys, accompanied by the accumulation of urea and residual nitrogen in the blood).

From the nervous system the following may appear:

• dizziness;
• hallucinations;
• confusion;
• seizures;
• delirium, etc.

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pharmachologic effect

The antiviral activity of acyclovir is explained by its ability to inhibit the synthesis of viral DNA, i.e. is caused by suppression of the replication of viral particles sensitive to the drug. The genetic apparatus - nucleic acids DNA and RNA, are complex compounds with nitrogenous bases included in them. Each individual has its own sequence of nitrogenous bases.

Nitrogen bases combine with carbohydrates (deoxyribose and ribose) to form nucleosides. One of them, called thymidine, is activated into deoxythymidine by the enzyme thymidine kinase. Deoxythymidine is incorporated into the replicated DNA strand. Acyclovir, being a synthetic substance, is similar in structure to thymidine. As a result, it interacts with the enzyme thymidine kinase, turning into mono-, di- and triphosphate. It is acyclovir triphosphate that can integrate into the replicated DNA chain and cause its damage. In parallel, the viral DNA polymerase is inhibited, the synthesis of viral DNA is disrupted, and the viral particle does not multiply.

Clinically, the effect of acyclovir is manifested by stopping the spread of herpetic skin rash and healing of existing blisters, reducing pain and itching, and eliminating the phenomena of general intoxication, if any. Treatment with acyclovir helps prevent complications of herpetic infection on internal organs.

Acyclovir, in addition to its antiviral effect, strengthens the immune system. The drug exhibits its qualities both locally and throughout the body when taken internally or intravenously, without damaging human cells, i.e. specifically affects only the genetic material of viruses.

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