What is Acyclovir?
Acyclovir is a prescription antiviral drug available as Zovirax – a brand name, and also as a generic drug. Acyclovir works by preventing viruses from multiplying and dividing. Acyclovir was co-discovered by Howard Schaeffer while working with S. Bittner, Robert Vince, and S. Gurwara.
Since the discovery in the 1970s, it has been used to treat infections caused by the herpes virus family. It wasn't until 1974 that acyclovir was patented.
It was approved in 1981 for medical use. Acyclovir is one of the drugs on the WHO List of Essential Medicines considered to be effective and safe for use in the health sector.
What is Zovirax used for?
Zovirax is prescribed for treating varicella-zoster virus infections and herpes simplex virus. It could also be a preventive medicine for cytomegalovirus infection.
Acyclovir slows down the rate at which the virus grows in the body as it lessens the symptoms of the disease. Sometimes, it's useful in treating Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), but its effectiveness is not clear. However, it is not useful in infectious mononucleosis due to EBV.
It is also helpful in preventing and treating neonatal herpes simplex, genital herpes simplex, and herpes simplex labialis (cold sores) as well.
Doctors also prescribe it to people with immunocompromised systems like those going through cancer chemotherapy to help prevent herpes viruses. It is also useful in preventing acute mucocutaneous HSV infections in immunocompromised patients as well.
What is Zovirax generic?
Zovirax generic name is acyclovir, and it was approved by the FDA (The Food and Drug Administration) for treating viruses in the 1980s. Marketed initially as Zovirax, but its patents expired in the 1990s. Ever since then, acyclovir became generic and has been sold under different brand names worldwide.
Zovirax is the brand name for the drug acyclovir. You can also get acyclovir generic from other brand names like Sitavig and GlaxoSmithKline. Acyclovir generic versions are usually less expensive than their brand-name version. So you can buy acyclovir generic for a cheap price than you can buy Zovirax.
Generic Zovirax is available in cream and ointment that you can apply on your skin. It is also available in Zovirax tablets, capsules and suspension you can take by mouth. Furthermore, it is also available as an intravenous (IV) drug.
Zovirax generic can be sold in online pharmacies and don’t be surprised at its cheap price in comparison with its analog in real-life pharmacies. The generic Zovirax is sold in online pharmacies legally and its price is wholesale. So always buy Zovirax at a reputable online pharmacy, either cheap or expensive. Always ask your healthcare provider for information about the generic version of Zovirax before purchasing if you ever get confused about it.
Can I Buy Zovirax anywhere?
In your real life, you can't buy Zovirax or buy acyclovir in the pharmacy. Acyclovir is a prescription drug and can't be gotten anywhere. Acyclovir can cause a hypersensitive reaction. That is why it has to be prescribed to you by a doctor before you can buy acyclovir or buy Zovirax from a counter or buy acyclovir online.
Different cities and countries have different regulations for various prescription drugs like acyclovir. That is why, IP servers of online pharmacies that sell Zovirax are situated in those countries, where it is allowed to purchase acyclovir without prescription.
For instance, the U.S. has a law that restricts the sales of Zovirax online. When you want to buy Zovirax or buy acyclovir online, there is little or no restrictions; you simply order for the drug, pay for it, and it gets delivered. And because acyclovir is quite potent and can be dangerous to your health if consumed wrongly. It is only proper to have a restriction on buying acyclovir online.
The price of getting these drugs isn't constant; acyclovir price may differ from brand to brand - Zovirax price may be lower than other brands. Acyclovir costs more in some countries than others, and that is why Zovirax cost may vary as well.
What are the side effects of Zovirax?
If you have any allergic reaction when you use Zovirax, get emergency medical help immediately. Common allergic reactions include difficulty breathing, hives, swelling in the throat, tongue, lips, or face, amongst others.
Some people experience easy bleeding or bruising with a red or purple pinpoint spot under your skin. Others experience signs of kidney problems with no or little urinating characterized by difficult or painful urination. Swelling of the ankles and feet is also another common side effect people experience after taking Zovirax. In some people, it could be short of breath or feeling tired.
If you're experiencing nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, general ill feeling, or headache, after taking Zovirax, please contact your healthcare provider. Some people, after taking Zovirax injection, experience redness, pain, or swelling at the place injection. Loss of appetite and increased thirst are also common side effects of taking Zovirax.
Trembling, confusion, hallucination, convulsion are also common side effects of Zovirax. Changes in vision and blurred vision are also commonly associated with taking Zovirax.
Some side effects of taking Zovirax may go away during the treatment as the body adjusts to the medication. But to be on the safe side, contact your health care provider if you're experiencing any difficulty.
Using Zovirax for shingles (herpes zoster)
General information about shingles and how Zovirax can help?
Shingles are simply the reactivation of chickenpox or the primary varicella infection. Although chickenpox is generally a childhood disease, it has become common with increasing age.
Different factors can contribute to shingles like a decrease in the immune function like chemotherapy, chronic corticosteroid use, human immunodeficiency virus, amongst others. Shingles are characterized by a burning pain that precedes the rash by several days and can go on for months after the rash resolves.
How does Zovirax work?
Zovirax is a DNA polymerase inhibitor. It works with the enzyme viral thymidine kinase. This enzyme helps convert it into acyclovir monophosphate. Then the host cell kinases can convert it to acyclovir triphosphate (ACV-TP).
It is this ACP-TP that is responsible for inhibiting the herpes zoster, thereby preventing further viral DNA synthesis. It takes between 48 and 72 hours after the onset of the rash for Zovirax to be effective in reducing the symptoms of shingles.
How to take Zovirax for Shingles?
Administering Zovirax for shingles can be done orally or intravenously with the most common being orally. The major drawback of oral administration of Zovirax is that it lowers the bioavailability of the drug than compared to other agents and the frequency of dosage.
On the other hand, intravenous administration of it for shingles is mostly useful on patients who can't take medications orally, or are severely immunocompromised.
What is the dose?
The type of acyclovir used also determines the dosage to use. Generally, doctors often prescribe 800mg of acyclovir orally five times a day for the next 7 to 10 days to cure shingles. For IV, 10mg per kg every 8 hours for the next 7 to 10 days.
When using Famciclovir, usea1 500mg of Famir orally three times a day for the next seven days. When using Valacyclovir, use 1000mg of Valtrex orally three times a day for seven days.
If using Prednisone, use 30mg of Deltasone orally twice a day from day 1 to day 7, and then use 15mg twice a day from day 8 to day 14 and then 7.5mg twice a day from day 15 to day 21.
Using Zovirax for Genital Herpes
General information about Genital Herpes and How Zovirax can help?
Genital herpes is a common sexually transmitted infection characterized by genital sores or pain. The herpes simplex virus causes genital herpes, and it affects both women and men.
Treating genital herpes helps dampen the symptoms, but this condition has no cure. It is self-diagnosable as its symptoms are pains followed by itching, and then small sores appear.
After the initial infection, genital herpes stays dormant and can recur for years. It spreads by having unprotected anal, virginal, or oral sex. However, taking oral acyclovir like Zovirax – an antiviral drug, as well as self-care, can be used to manage genital herpes outbreak.
How does Zovirax work
Zovirax is an antiviral drug that helps reduce the duration and severity of genital herpes symptoms when they flare-up.
Once contacted, the virus at the infected skin area starts to multiply and infect new cells. Acyclovir is a class of antiviral medication called synthetic nucleoside analogs, which works by stopping the spread of the herpes virus in the body.
Doctors prescribe acyclovir to patients having their first episode of genital herpes, although it is also useful for treating recurrent episodes as well. It is also useful for two types of treatment regime - suppressive therapy and episodic therapy.
How to take Zovirax for Genital Herpes?
Three major drugs are commonly used in treating genital herpes symptoms. These drugs include Zovirax (acyclovir), Famvir (Famciclovir), and Valtrex (Valacyclovir).
One can take these drugs in the form of acyclovir pills or intravenous (IV) in severe cases. You should always take any of these drugs as prescribed by your healthcare provider.
Ensure you follow all directions on your prescription label and don't take a smaller or larger amount of this drug or use it longer than recommended.
What is the dose?
When treating genital herpes with Zovirax, doctors often prescribe it for initial treatment, intermittent treatment, or suppressive treatment. Zovirax is given as an initial treatment when you experience symptoms like sores.
Doctors often initiate a brief course of 7 to 10 days of antiviral therapy to help relieve or prevent the symptoms from getting worse. And if the sores don't heal on time, doctors could keep you on the drugs for a longer period.
After the first treatment, doctors will provide the best advice if you're to continue the antiviral drug as an intermittent treatment or a suppressive treatment. When doctors prescribe an antiviral drug for you to keep at hand always in case you ever have a flare-up is called an intermittent treatment.
Intermittent could last for 2 to 5 days after you notice the sores and the feeling of an outbreak. And lastly, when you frequently have an outbreak, doctors prescribe an antiviral drug for use every day as a suppressive treatment.
Using Zovirax for Cold Sores?
General information about Cold Sore and how Zovirax can help?
Cold sores, also known as fever blisters, is an infection caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV-1). Sores around the lips characterize cold sores. It is communicable through close personal contact like kissing.
Cold sores are tiny liquid-filled blisters that form around the lips. The blisters often group in patches. When these blisters break, it forms a crust, which results in the sores.
How does Zovirax Work?
Cold sore is a very infectious sore on the lips that can be treated with acyclovir. The symptoms disappear faster when acyclovir or any antiviral drug prescribed by the doctor is used rather than letting the virus run its course.
Acyclovir also helps prevent the formation of new scores and helps reduce the pain and itching of the cold sores. Acyclovir could also help reduce how long the pain will last after the sore has healed.
It can also help people with immunocompromised systems and frequent outbreaks, reduce the number of future outbreaks.
How to take Zovirax for Cold Sores?
Take acyclovir immediately or as soon as you notice the first symptoms of the infection. Cold sore often starts with a tingling, burning, or itching feeling.
You can take Zovirax pills easily by swallowing it with room temperature water. It can also be available in suspension form where you can just drink it and rinse your mouth with clean water.
Acyclovir is also available in cream form for cold sores. First, clean the area with clean water, and then apply the Zovirax cream. When using acyclovir cream, symptoms of cold sore should not persist after four days. If symptoms persist after four days, please consult your doctor.
What is the dose?
The dose of acyclovir to use for cold sore varies depending on whether you're using acyclovir tablets, liquid, or cream. Generally, you can get acyclovir in either acyclovir 400mg or acyclovir 800mg and may be lower for children, maybe as acyclovir 200mg.
Most times, doctors prescribe Zovirax 2 to 5 times a day when treating cold sores. But one should try to space the doses evenly throughout the day. Drink plenty of water if you're taking the tablet, and shake the bottle properly if taking the suspension.
The proper dosage of Zovirax to use depends on your response to treatment and medical condition. In children, the dosage is based on weight.