Aciclovir

Virustatic agent(base analog) that is used locally and systemically against herpes simplex and herpes zoster viruses.

• Internal therapy:
  • Adults
    :Zoster, Eccema herpeticatum: 5 times/day 800 mg p.o. or 3 times/day 5 mg/kg bw i.v. over 5 days.
    • In immunocompromised patients: up to 3 times/day 10-30 mg/kg bw i.v., depending on the severity of the herpes infection, treatment lasts 7-10 days.
      Herpes encephalitis, herpes zoster generalisatus, herpes esophagitis, ulcerated genital herpes simplex: 10 mg/kg bw every 8 hours i.v. for 7-10 days.
      Dose reduction for renal insufficiency:
    • creatinine clearance 25-50 ml/min. Extend the dose interval to 12 hours.
    • 10-25 ml/min. Extend the dose interval to 24 hours.
    • < 10 ml/min.: administration of half the single dose once/day.
    • Dialysis patients: 5 mg/kg bw after each haemodialysis.
  • Children:
    • Children from 3 months: 110 mg/day i.v. divided into 2-3 single doses.
    • Children from 6 months: 130 mg/day i.v.
    • Children from 1 year: 160 mg/day i.v.
    • children from 3 years: 220 mg/day i.v. or twice a day 100 mg p.o.
    • children from 7,5 years: 325 mg/day i.v. or 2 times/day 200 mg p.o.
    • Children from 12 years of age: 440 mg/day i.v. or 3 times/day 200 mg p.o.
  • Prophylactically:
    • Recurrent genital herpes simplex: 2 times 200 mg/day p.o.
    • Herpes simplex recidivans with immunosuppression: 2 times/day 400 p.o.
• External therapy:
  • Herpes ophthalmicus: eye ointments 3%.
  • Skin: 5% in creams, start treatment at the first signs of the herpes disease (burning, itching, feeling of tension, redness), apply thinly 5 times/day to the infected and immediately adjacent skin areas.

Notice! Never administer Aciclovir s.c., i.m. or in bolus, let infusions run for at least 1 hour. Check creatinine level!

In the case of recurrences, the patient should take the medication as soon as the first signs of the disease appear (itching, stinging, burning, pain). Apply ointment with a protective glove (1 cm of ointment is sufficient for an area of 5×5 cm), the lesions should always be carefully covered. In the case of genital herpes, sexual contact should be avoided until the skin lesions have healed!

Major interactions of aciclovir with systemic application