Have you or someone in your family had a viral infection like chickenpox, shingles, or herpes and has a doctor prescribed you a medicine called Acyclovir? If so, it is very important to be aware of this medicine before using it. Today, let's talk about what this Acyclovir is and what you need to be careful about while using it.
What kind of medicine is Acyclovir?
Simply put, Acyclovir is an antiviral medication . This means that it is used to treat diseases caused by certain types of viruses that enter our bodies. For example, it is used to treat conditions caused by the herpes virus, such as chickenpox, shingles, and genital herpes.
There is one important thing you must remember here. This medicine only treats viral infections. It does not work at all for things like the common cold, flu, cough, or bacterial infections.
This medicine may be available on the market under different brand names, such as Zovirax, but they all contain the same active ingredient, Acyclovir.
Things to tell your doctor before starting this medication
Before your doctor prescribes Acyclovir, they will need to know your complete medical history. Therefore, if you have any of the following conditions, be sure to tell your doctor.
- Kidney disease: This is very important if you have any kidney disease. This is because this medication is mainly eliminated from the body through the kidneys. If your kidneys are not functioning properly, your doctor may need to adjust your dosage.
- Allergies: Have you ever had an allergy to the medications Acyclovir, Ganciclovir, or Valacyclovir? Or to any other medications, foods, dyes, or preservatives?
- Pregnancy or expecting a baby: If you are pregnant, or are expecting a baby soon, it is essential to inform your doctor.
- Breastfeeding: If you are a breastfeeding mother, you should definitely talk about that too.
How to use the medicine correctly?
To get the most out of your medication, you need to use it properly.
- Take this pill with a glass of water.
- It doesn't matter if you take it before or after meals.
- It is very important to take the correct dose at the correct time. If your doctor tells you to take it three times a day, try to take it at the same time every 8 hours.
- The most important thing is to finish the entire course of medication prescribed. Do not stop taking the medication even if you feel a little better. Doing so can cause the virus to return and not go away completely.
- If you give this medicine to children, you should carefully give the dose appropriate for their weight, as the doctor recommends.
What to do if you take too much medicine?
If you accidentally take too much medicine, do not take it lightly. Go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department (ETU) immediately. Or call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital for medical advice.
Remember, this medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not give your medicine to anyone else, even if they have the same symptoms as you.
What if I miss a dose of medicine?
If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the scheduled time. Never take two doses at once, including a missed dose.
Other medications that may interact with Acyclovir
Other medications you are taking may interact with Acyclovir. Therefore, tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking (including vitamins and herbal remedies). Acyclovir may have particularly harmful interactions with the following medications:
| Type of medicine | Notes |
|---|---|
| Cidofovir | Acyclovir should never be taken with this medication. |
| Other drugs that can affect the kidneys | Medicines such as Amphotericin B, some antibiotics (e.g. Amikacin, Gentamicin, Vancomycin), Colistin, Foscarnet, Tacrolimus, Cyclosporine. |
| Other medications | Drugs like Probenecid, Cimetidine, Methotrexate, Lithium, Adefovir, Cisplatin. |
This list may not be complete, so it's safest to tell your doctor about all the medications you take.
Things to be careful about when taking medicine
- Drink plenty of water: Drink at least 6-8 glasses of water a day while taking this medication. This will help reduce the potential impact on the kidneys.
- Start treatment early: The best results are obtained if you start this medication as soon as you notice the first signs of a viral infection (e.g., numbness, redness, or blistering of the skin).
- Transmission: This is a common misconception. Even if you take this medicine, you can still pass chickenpox, shingles, or herpes to someone else. So, stay away from others (especially pregnant women, young children, and people with weakened immune systems) until your symptoms are gone, as your doctor advises. Since genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease (STD), talk to your doctor about how to prevent spreading it.
What are the possible side effects?
Like any medicine, Acyclovir can cause side effects in some people. Some of these can be serious, so it's important to be aware of them.
| Side effect | Description |
|---|---|
| Serious side effects that you should report to your doctor immediately | |
| Allergic reactions | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat. |
| Kidney injury | Decreased urine output, swelling of the ankles, hands, or feet. |
| Nervous system changes | Confusion, seeing or hearing things that are not there (hallucinations), seizures. |
| Things that are usually not serious, but should be reported to the doctor if they persist | |
| Digestive system problems | Stomach ache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. |
| Headache | A common headache. |
How to store the medicine?
- Keep out of reach of children and pets.
- Store at room temperature (between 15-25 degrees Celsius).
- Throw away expired medicine.
Take-Home Message
- Acyclovir is a medicine for viral infections. It will not cure bacterial infections or the common cold.
- Before starting the medication, tell your doctor about any other medical conditions you have (especially kidney disease) and all other medications you are taking.
- Take the entire dose of medicine prescribed by the doctor, at the prescribed time.
- Drink plenty of water throughout the day while taking the medication. This will help protect your kidneys.
- If you experience serious side effects such as skin rash, facial swelling, or decreased urination, seek medical advice immediately.
- Remember that you can still pass the infection on to someone else, even while you are taking the medication.
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