Acyclovir (Zovirax)

Category:

  • Antiviral

Description:

  • Purine nucleotide that inhibits viral replication

  Indications:

  • Genital herpes treatment and prophylaxis

  • Mucosal and cutaneous herpes simplex (HSV-1 and HSV-2) treatment and prophylaxis

  • Varicella-zoster (chickenpox & shingles)  

Precautions:

  • Pregnancy category C

  • Dosing modification is required for patients with impaired renal function.

  • Avoid sexual contact when genital lesions are present.

  • Medication treatment is not a cure for viral infection.

  • Do not exceed recommended dose.

  • Initiate therapy at earliest signs of symptoms.

  • Use rubber gloves or a finger cot when applying topical cream to active lesions, so as not to inoculate other areas.

  Adverse Reactions (Side Effects):

  • Malaise (11.5%)

  • Nausea and vomiting (2-8%)

  • Headache (6%)

  • Pain / phlebitis at injection site (9%)

Dosage:

Administered as an oral tablet, capsule, topical cream or injection

Parenteral (avoid rapid IV, IM or SQ injections, administer via slow IV infusion):

Mucosal and cutaneous HSV infections:

  • 5mg/kg infused over 1 hour, every 8 hours for 7 days

Varicella-zoster (shingles) infections:

  • 10mg/kg infused over 1 hour, every 8 hours for 7 days

Herpes simplex encephalitis:

  • 10mg/kg infused over 1 hour, every 8 hours for 10 days

Oral:

Herpes simplex:

  • Initial infection: 200mg q4h (5 times a day) for 10 days

  • Chronic suppression: 400mg bid for 12 months

  • Intermittent therapy: 200mg q4h (5 times a day) for 5 days

Herpes zoster, acute treatment

  • 800mg q4h (5 times a day) for 7-10 days

Chickenpox

  • 20mg/kg (not to exceed 800mg) qid for 5 days

Topical:

  • Apply a sufficient quantity to adequately cover all lesions q3h (6 times a day) for 7 days.

 

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Approved for public release; Distribution is unlimited.

The information contained here is an abbreviated summary. For more detailed and complete information, consult the manufacturer's product information sheets or standard textbooks.

Source: Operational Medicine 2001, Health Care in Military Settings, NAVMED P-5139, May 1, 2001, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Department of the Navy, 2300 E Street NW, Washington, D.C., 20372-5300.

Bureau of Medicine and Surgery
Department of the Navy
2300 E Street NW
Washington, D.C
20372-5300

Operational Medicine
 Health Care in Military Settings
CAPT Michael John Hughey, MC, USNR
NAVMED P-5139
  January 1, 2001

United States Special Operations Command
7701 Tampa Point Blvd.
MacDill AFB, Florida
33621-5323

*This web version is provided by The Brookside Associates, LLC.  It contains original contents from the official US Navy NAVMED P-5139, but has been reformatted for web access and includes advertising and links that were not present in the original version. The medical information presented was reviewed and felt to be accurate in 2001. Medical knowledge and practice methods may have changed since that time. Some links may no longer be active. This web version has not been approved by the Department of the Navy or the Department of Defense. The presence of any advertising on these pages does not constitute an endorsement of that product or service by either the US Department of Defense or the Brookside Associates. The Brookside Associates is a private organization, not affiliated with the United States Department of Defense.

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