Drug name: Zovirax
Other names used:
- ACV®
- Acycloguanosine®
Active Ingredients:
- Acyclovir
Therapeutic effects of Zovirax: Acyclovir, the active ingredient of Zovirax, is used to treat infections caused by virus. This drug works by inhibiting the spread and growth of herpes virus. Zovirax will reduce the symptoms of the infection, but it won't cure the infection caused by herpes virus.
Indications: Zovirax is administered for treating:
- Viral infection that causes extremely itchy blisters all over the body (Chickenpox)
- Shingles (Herpes Zoster)
- Infections of the skin caused by herpes simplex
- Sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the herpes simplex virus (Genital herpes)
- To prevent infections caused by herpes simplex in people with weak immunity
Precautions and Restrictions: Do not take this medicine:
- If you are allergic to the ingredient of this medicine, Acyclovir or Valcyclovir
- If you are pregnant
- If you are a nursing mother
Before taking this medicine talk to your doctor if:
- You are an elderly person
- You suffer from any renal disease
It is not advisable to have sexual intercourse, because genital herpes can spread through sexual contact.
While using this medicine the user should drink plenty of water.
Side effects of Zovirax: People using Zovirax are susceptible to certain adverse reactions that are wholly or partly unexpected. These side effects may or may not occur and there is no proof that if these side effects are experienced by one person other will experience it too. Some of the side effects that the users may experience are:
- Problems of sight
- Arthralgia
- Agitation
- Tiredness
- Loss of hair
- Impairment in spatial perception and stability
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Dyspepsia
Below mentioned side effects are of serious nature, so if you experience any of these it's best to contact a medical care provider immediately:
- Loss of consciousness
- Convulsions
- Shaking of a part of your body that you cannot control
- Inability to move
- Tingling, burning sensation, or numbness in the arms and legs
- Speech problem
- Aggressive behavior
- Confusion
- Hallucinations
- Cephalalgia
- Oliguria
- Pale skin
- Weakness
- Tachycardia
- Harsh, raspy, or strained voice
- Inflammation of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
- Breathing difficulty
- Dysphagia
- Itching
- Blisters and rashes
- Hives
- Blood in diarrhea
- Pain or cramps in the abdomen
- Blood in the urine
- Abnormal bleeding
- Pyrexia, cold, cough, sore throat
- Insomnia
Whatever may be the nature it's best to consult a doctor if you experience unintended reactions after taking Zovirax. For the full list of all the side effects that may occur, kindly consult a medical care provider or see the report from the drug manufacturer.
Interactions: Certain medicinal substances when used along with Zovirax can react with it and increase or decrease or cause a totally unintended effect. This can be best avoided by consulting a doctor before using Zovirax. Some of the medicines that may interact with Zovirax are:
- Probenecid (Benemid)
- Pentamidine (NebuPent)
- AIDS/HIV treating medicines such as zidovudine (Retrovir, AZT)
- Vancomycin
- Tacrolimus (Prograf)
- Sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim (Bactrim)
- Cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune)
- NSAIDs and aspirin medicines such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), and naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn)
- Aminoglycoside antibiotics such as amikacin (Amikin), gentamicin (Garamycin), kanamycin (Kantrex), neomycin (Nes-RX, Neo-Fradin), paramomycin (Humatin), streptomycin, and tobramycin (Tobi, Nebcin)
- Amphotericin B (Fungizone)
Additional Information: Zovirax should not be used without prior approval of a trained physician and don't share these drugs with anybody else. Zovirax is made for specific conditions and it's not advisable to use for other purposes. Keep medicinal drugs out of the reach of children.
