Acyclovir was invented by Gertrude Elion and George Hutchings
who together received the Nobel Prize in 1988. Acyclovir has been
available for over a decade and the most common brand name is
Zovirax,
manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline

Acyclovir is an antiviral agent used to treat different types of
Herpes viruses like

• Herpes Simplex 1: Causes Oral Herpes also known as
  cold sores
• Herpes Simplex 2: Causes Genital Herpes
• Varicella Herpes Zoster: Causes shingles and
  chickenpox
• Epstein-Barr virus (mononucleosis)

Acyclovir can't cure any Herpes viruses. There is no cure for any
Herpes viruses. Once you've caught a Herpes virus it stays in your
body for life although it is latent most of the time. Acyclovir
can treat the outbreaks and symptoms of Herpes as well as reduce
future outbreaks of some Herpes viruses.

Episodic Treatment of Herpes Simplex 1

Acyclovir is often used to treat Oral Herpes caused by Herpes
Simplex 1. Episodic treatment means you treat when there is symptoms.
Most common is the Zovirax cream which is available over
counter in pharmacies and is used when there is an outbreak. When
you use the cream you should try to use it as soon as you feel any
irritation around the mouth prior to an outbreak because that will
have the best effect. Be careful when you use the cream:

• Do not use your fingers to apply the cream, use a cotton
  bud
• Wash your hands first
• Avoid touching the tip of the cotton bud
• Do not dip the cotton bud more than once in the cream,
  use several if needed

This may seem a little exaggerated but you avoid cross contamination
which may slow down or even eliminate the effects of the cream. You should
apply the cream several times (2-4) a day for full effect. The
cream will reduce the frequency, duration and severity of outbreaks as
well as reduce the risk of future outbreaks and the risk of spreading.

Episodic Treatment of Herpes Simplex 2

Acyclovir is available as a prescription tablet used to treat
Genital Herpes. The dosage will be determined by your doctor.
It is very common to prescribe a 5 day course of 3 tablets a day
taken with 4 hour intervals, but this may vary. It is very important
that you don't mis any doses as you need to keep the level of Acyclovir
up in your body. This episodic treatment will reduce the severity,
frequency and duration of your outbreak as well as reduce future outbreaks
and reduce the risk of spreading.

Suppressive treatment of Herpes Simplex 2

If you experience severe outbreaks of Genital Herpes more than
6 times a year, you may consider asking your doctor about suppressive
treatment with an antiviral agent, for example Acyclovir. There is a
risk of developing resistance to Acyclovir so suppressive treatment
should only be considered in svere cases and only as long as needed.
Suppressive treatment with Acyclovir means that you take an Acyclovir
tablet once every day for 6 or 12 months to prevent outbreaks. You
should see a doctor after you finish a course of Acyclovir to evaluate
the effects.

Treatment of Chickenpox

In severe cases of chickenpox, your doctor may prescribe Acyclovir
tablets or another antiviral agent to fight the Varicella Herpes
Zoster virus that causes chickenpox. Acyclovir will reduce healing time,
limit the number of lesions and reduce fever and pain if administered
within 24 hours of the first symptoms.

Treatment of Shingles

In most cases of shingles, your doctor will prescribe Acyclovir
tablets or another antiviral agent to fight the Varicella Herpes
Zoster virus that causes chickenpox. Acyclovir will reduce healing
time, limit the number of lesions and reduce fever and pain if
administered within 24 hours of the first symptoms as well as reduce
the risk of Post-Herpetic Neuralgia.

Precautions

There are rarely any side effects of Acyclovir, but these have
been registered:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Headache
• Skin rash

If you are pregnant, breast feeding or you have any drug allergies
or you have impaired renal function or you take any
other drugs or you have other illnesses you should inform your doctor
before you get a prescription for Acyclovir

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