It is a medication that belongs to the group of drugs that have pronounced antiviral activity against herpes simplex (first and second types) virus, herpes zoster, chickenpox (varicella), cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus. After entering the cell Zovirax's active substance undergoes a number of changes and becomes abnormal substrate for viral DNA thereby leading to the impossibility of dividing the body. Host cells remain undamaged.
In what kind of disease treatment Zovirax is helpful?
• For the treatment and prevention of diseases of the mucous membranes and skin, which are caused by a virus of the first (damaging lips) herpes and the second (damaging the genitals of both men and women) types in people with normal and reduced immunity;
• For the treatment of infections caused by the herpes zoster virus such as shingles and chicken pox;
• For the treatment of patients with HIV infection and after a bone marrow transplant surgery.
What should I tell my health care provider before I take Generic Zovirax?
in response to cytotoxic agents - during their development;
pregnancy;
lactation period.
How should I take Zovirax?
Zovirax Tablets are shown orally with water (about 200-250 ml). It is possible to use it during meals. In order to treat infectious diseases caused by herpes simplex virus, pills are administered in a dosage of 200 mg five times a day. The duration of treatment with this drug depends on the severity of the disease, the effectiveness of therapy and an average of 5 days.
Dosage information
For the prevention of infections caused by the herpes simplex activator, patients with normal immune status should take it in a dosage of 200 mg four times a day or 400 mg twice a day and in patients with reduced immunity dose can be up to 2 grams per day.
is allowed to increase a single dose up to 2 tablets (respectively 400 mg.) in severe immunodeficiency and in case of violation of absorption from the intestine;
4 times / 1 pill a day every six hours - to prevent infection recurrences provoked by Herpes simplex types 1 and 2 at the normal immune state is permitted receiving the drug over 12 hours twice a day, 2 tablets (respectively 400 mg.) in order to identify changes throughout the period of the disease - therapy periodically suspended from half a year to a 1 year;
3 t / 1 p to meet the break in 8 hours with either twice a day in compliance with break 12 watches - such low doses sometimes show greater efficacy;
4 t / 1 p every six hours - with immunosuppression to prevent infections of Herpes simplex type 1 and 2;
is allowed to increase by 2 times (respectively 400 mg.) of a single dose and up to five times a day, the multiplicity of reception - at frustration absorption from the intestine and expressed immunodeficiency;
5 t / 4 p every four hours - in the chicken pox and the same with herpes zoster, therapeutic course - 7 days;
4 t / 4 p every six hours - immunodeficiency pronounced after surgery bone marrow transplant, a month prior to this course you need to take a course of acyclovir.
Duration of the course in the developed clinical picture of HIV infection - 12 months but may be more effective longer therapeutic courses.
What may interact with Generic Zovirax?
When using Zovirax simultaneously with other pharmaceuticals especially significant interactions were not observed. Cimetidine and calcium channel blockers increase the AUC of acyclovir and thus reduce its renal clearance. If you use both Zovirax with drugs that are excreted by the way of active tubular secretion is likely to increase the concentration of active components in plasma or their metabolites (caution is needed in the appointment of these combinations). To improve the index AUC of the active ingredient of Zovirax and metabolite of mycophenolate mofenila (inactive) results in concomitant use of acyclovir and immunosuppressant mycophenolate mofenila used in organ transplantation.
What should I watch for while taking Zovirax?
It should be noted that in the case of receiving Zovirax by elderly patients it is necessary to observe adequate drinking mode. With abnormal liver function in these patients it is necessary to solve the question of reducing the dosage of the drug. Medical consultation is necessary in patients with severe herpes of lips. You should also exclude sex in genital herpes or, as an alternative, to use condoms, because there is a probability of sexual transmission of the virus.
In the treatment of any disease of an infectious nature of patients with immunodeficiency is necessary to follow the doctor's recommendations. It is necessary to control the mandatory function of the kidneys in patients with herpetic encephalitis especially in the initial dehydration or disorder of renal function. If you use both Zovirax with drugs violating of kidney function (cyclosporine, tacrolimus), caution is necessary and should be monitored constantly renal function.
Is contraindicated alcohol intake during treatment as ethyl alcohol has the property to enhance the side effects of the nervous system;
Zovirax is not addictive.
What side effects may I notice from Generic Zovirax?
Headache;
diarrhea;
abdominal pain;
photosensitivity;
itching;
hives;
rash;
fever;
Itch;
increase in the level of bilirubin (reversible) and liver enzymes.
Other:
fast fatiguability.
In rare cases:
diffuse very fast;
neurological disorders (reversible);
angioedema;
dyspnea;
anaphylaxis;
increased blood creatinine and urea.
Overdose symptoms are neurological symptoms, renal failure, increased urea and creatinine in the blood.
Where can I keep Zovirax?
You should keep it in a dry place at a temperature under 30 degrees out of children.
