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Aciclovir Tablets
Dosage
Packaging
What is Aciclovir?
Active Ingredients: Aciclovir
Aciclovir (Acyclovir) Tablets are a drug used to treat viral infections such as chickenpox, shingles, cold sores around the mouth, and outbreaks of genital herpes. This medication may be used to prevent cytomegalovirus infections after transplant and severe infections caused by the Epstein-Barr virus.
Aciclovir does not cure infection from the virus, nor does it prevent transmission.
This drug inhibits the action of the viral DNA polymerase and DNA replication of different herpesviruses.
The oral bioavailability of this drug is 10-20% but decreases with increasing doses and it is not affected by food. It is 9-33% protein bound in plasma. Most of the drug is excreted in the urine as an unchanged drug, while 90-92% of the drug can be excreted unchanged through glomerular filtration and tubular secretion. Less than 2% of the drug is excreted in feces and <0.1% is expired as CO2.
Aciclovir is a guanosine analog belonging to the class of medicines called antivirals. It works by stopping viral replication, which decreases the severity of symptoms and duration of illness. It is effective against infections caused by herpes simplex, varicella zoster, herpes zoster, and herpes labialis.
AdvaCare Pharma is a trusted global exporter of Acyclovir Tablets. This medication is produced in our GMP-certified facilities in China, India, and the USA. Our manufacturing facilities are regularly inspected to ensure they comply with WHO's standards, rules, and regulations.
Why are we a leading Aciclovir manufacturer?
Our entire range of pharmaceuticals, including these Aciclovir (Acyclovir) Tablets, have been manufactured under strict GMP regulations.
AdvaCare Pharma, an American pharmaceutical company, is an Aciclovir manufacturer offering over 200 high-quality and cost-effective oral solid pharmaceutical tablets to meet the needs of the global market. The extensive international network that we partner with includes pharmaceutical distributors, hospitals, pharmacies, and a variety of other institutions.
Uses
What is Aciclovir (Acyclovir) used for?
It is used to treat symptoms caused by viral infections like:
- chickenpox
- shingles
- herpes virus infections of the genitals, the skin, the brain, and mucous membranes
How are Aciclovir Tablets used?
This medication should be taken orally and is most effective if started soon after the first appearance of symptoms.
What dose should be taken?
The usual dose for adults is 200mg taken five times a day.
The usual dose for children is based on medical condition, response to treatment, age, and weight. Refer to a doctor or pharmacist for guidelines on dosage. Do not exceed what they advise.
Dosage may vary based on different medical indications:
- For the treatment of Herpes Zoster, the recommended dosage is 800mg every 4 hours orally, 5 times daily for 7 to 10 days.
- For the treatment of Initial Genital Herpes, the recommended dosage is 200mg every 4 hours, 5 times daily for 10 days.
- For the treatment of recurrent diseases, the recommended dosage is 400mg, 2 times daily for up to 12 months, followed by re-evaluation. Alternative treatments need doses ranging from 200mg 3 times daily to 200mg 5 times daily.
- For intermittent therapy the recommended dosage is 200 mg every 4 hours, 5 times daily for 5 days.
- For the treatment of Chickenpox, the recommended dosage for children (2 years of age and older): is 20mg/kg per dose orally 4 times daily (80mg/kg/day) for 5 days, while for children over 40kg, the recommended dosage is the same as for adults. For adults, the recommended dosage for chickenpox is 800mg, 4 times daily for 5 days.
- For the treatment of viral diseases for patients with renal impairment, the dosage depends on the blood parameters, the patient’s age, and the current health status.
Consult a healthcare professional to get the best dosing advice based on your individual needs.
Who can use Aciclovir?
This is an antiviral drug that can be used for patients in treating viral diseases. Special precautions should be considered in the following groups of patients.
Pregnant This drug belongs to category B of drugs for pregnant women. Animal studies show that this drug does not lead to teratogenic effects in the mouse (450mg/kg/day, p.o.), rabbit (50mg/kg/day, s.c. and IV), or rat (50mg/kg/day, s.c.).
There are not many significant studies performed on pregnant women regarding the safety of aciclovir. One prospective study discusses the safety of aciclovir during pregnancy in women.
The study included 749 pregnancies where women were exposed to systemic aciclovir during the first trimester, and there were 756 outcomes recorded. The rate of birth defects was similar to that of the general population. The study's small sample size does not allow for a thorough assessment of the risk for defects or definitive conclusions about the safety of aciclovir in pregnancy. Aciclovir should only be used during pregnancy if the potential benefits outweigh the potential risks to the fetus.
Nursing It should be given with caution in breastfeeding women because aciclovir can be present in breast milk. These tablets should be given only if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Pediatric The safety is not proven in pediatric patients younger than 2 years of age. Healthcare professionals should decide whether this drug is suitable for young patients. It should be given only to patients who are able to swallow the tablet.
Geriatric Older patients often have reduced renal function and this requires dose reduction. These patients are also more prone to negative renal or CNS outcomes and the dose needs to be adjusted accordingly. Some of the most common side effects are somnolence, hallucinations, confusion, and coma in older patients.
Is only Aciclovir enough to prevent viral diseases caused by herpes?
It depends on the severity of the health problem. In some cases, only these tablets alone are enough, but in some severe cases, other drugs and supplements are needed. Patients with genital herpes should also limit their sexual activity to prevent the spreading of genital herpes. They should also use protection during sexual intercourse.
How should Aciclovir Tablets be stored?
The tablets should be kept in their original packaging until use. Try to keep them at room temperature in a place that is away from moisture, heat, or direct light. Keep this medication out of the reach of children or pets. Before use, check the expiry date on the packaging and discard any outdated medicine.
Other warnings
Patients allergic to valacyclovir or aciclovir should inform their doctors. If they develop some allergic reactions, they should inform their doctors. This includes symptoms like itching, rashes, and even difficulty breathing.
Patients with kidney and immune system problems should inform their doctors before taking this medication.
Before any kind of surgery including dental procedures, patients should inform their doctors before taking this medication.
Patients should inform their healthcare professionals if they are using aciclovir before having any vaccinations or immunizations.
Older patients are more sensitive to Aciclovir and they can develop kidney problems, mental mood changes, drowsiness, and loss of consciousness.
This drug does not protect the spread of genital herpes. This can be only achieved by limiting sexual contact during an outbreak or if you have symptoms. The best way to stop spreading genital herpes is by using polyurethane or latex condoms during sexual activities.
Side Effects
As with all pharmaceuticals, some unwanted effects can occur from the use of Aciclovir (Acyclovir) Tablets.
Common side effects include, but may not be limited to:
- upset stomach, vomiting, diarrhea
- dizziness
- tiredness
Seek medical attention if the following develop:
- hives, rash, blisters, or itching
- fever, sore throat, chills, cough
- unusual bleeding or bruising
- blood in the urine
- bloody diarrhea
- hallucinations
- confusion
- seizures
- loss of consciousness
For a comprehensive understanding of all potential side effects, consult a medical professional.
If any symptoms persist or worsen, or you notice any other symptoms, please call your doctor immediately.
Precautions
Do NOT use Aciclovir (Acyclovir) Tablets if: • You are allergic to acyclovir, valacyclovir, or any of the ingredients.
Aciclovir may not be suitable for people with certain conditions, so it is important to consult with a doctor if:
- You have kidney disease.
- You have a weak immune system.
Before treatment, consult your doctor regarding any medications you are taking to address potential drug interactions.
Women should inform their doctors if they are pregnant, planning to get pregnant, or are breastfeeding at the moment.
If patients miss a dose, they should proceed to the next scheduled dose.
References
Effect of daily aciclovir on HIV disease progression in individuals in Rakai, Uganda, co-infected with HIV-1 and herpes simplex virus type 2: a randomised, double-blind placebo-controlled trial
The goal of this study is to evaluate the effect of daily suppressive aciclovir on HIV-1 disease progression.
It is a single-site, parallel, randomised, controlled trial of HIV-1, HSV-2 dually infected adults with CD4 cell counts of 300–400 cells per μL.
Patients received either aciclovir 400mg orally twice daily or placebo; participants were followed up for 24 months. The whole study included 440 patients, 220 in each group. The results showed that 110 participants in the placebo group and 95 in the treatment showed an adjusted hazard ratio of 0.75 (95% CI 0.58–0.99; p = 0.040). A subgroup analysis based on baseline HIV viral load revealed that participants with a viral load of 50,000 copies/mL or higher in the treatment group experienced reduced HIV disease progression compared to those in the placebo group (HR 0.62, 95% CI 0.43–0.96; p = 0.03).
The conclusion of this study is that aciclovir reduces the rate of disease progression and has the best effect in individuals with a high baseline viral load. Individuals co-infected with HSV-2 and HIV-1, especially those with HIV viral loads of 50,000 copies per mL or higher can benefit from suppressive aciclovir therapy before starting the antiretroviral therapy.
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