Aciclovir (Acyclovir) Tablets ? Effective Treatment For The Herpes Virus

Aciclovir (Acyclovir) Tablets ? Effective Treatment For The Herpes Virus

Aciclovir (Acyclovir) is a popular antiviral drug that helps to treat infections caused by the herpes viruses. These infections include genital herpes, shingles, chicken pox and cold sores. Though aciclovir (Acyclovir) does not help to cure the herpes outbreak, the medication helps to prevent the virus from multiplying. This helps to reduce the severity and the duration of the symptoms; as a result the patient recovers faster.

Oral aciclovir tablets are also found effective for preventing herpes simplex infections in patients whose immune systems are suppressed and are unable to fight off infections, either due to diseases such as HIV and AIDS, or because of medical treatments like chemotherapy, steroids or bone marrow transplant.

How Aciclovir works?

Aciclovir works by inhibiting particular enzymes that the virus requires for the replication of DNA in cells. By acting this way, aciclovir denies the virus, its means to multiply. The spread of the virus is therefore curtailed much faster than your body’s natural immunity is able to. A few days into the aciclovir treatment you will notice that the rash and sores associated with Herpes viruses seize up and crust over. It is recommended that even if the symptoms have completely disappeared, you should complete the full course of aciclovir tablets to prevent any further outbreaks from occurring. Treatment period of genital herpes with aciclovir tablets may extend for up to 12 months. To get the most effective results from this medication, aciclovir treatment should be started as soon as your symptoms begin to appear.

Available dosages of Aciclovir tablets

Aciclovir tablets are available in 3 different dosage strengths of 200mg, 400mg and 800mg tablets. Depending on the severity of your infection your doctor may recommend aciclovir tablets 2 to 5 times a day for up to 12 days, as soon as your symptoms become apparent. In case, you are taking aciclovir tablets for the prevention of the herpes outbreak you may have to take the medication about 2 to 5 times a day for up to 12 months.

Aciclovir tablets should be taken orally with a glass of water and may be taken with or without food. However, it is recommended that you take the medication with food as it helps to reduce certain side effects, such as nausea, diarrhea and stomach upsets.

Possible side effects of Aciclovir

Like with any other medicines, there are side effects associated with aciclovir tablets as well. However, most of aciclovir side effects are minor and either requires no treatment or is easily treated by you or your healthcare provider. Some of the commonly reported aciclovir side effects include a general feeling of being ill, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, fatigue, memory loss, leg pain, sore throat and swelling in the hands and the feet.

Some of the rarely reported but serious side effects of acyclovir tablets include aggressiveness or agitation, hallucinations, unusual bruising or bleeding, seizures, unusual decrease in urine production, signs of an allergic reaction (unexplained rash, hives, itching and unexplained swelling).

In case, you experience a serious side effect from acyclovir tablets or if any of the side effects become bothersome please consult your doctor immediately.