Zovirax Suspension
- Generic Name: acyclovir
- Brand Name: Zovirax Suspension
Zovirax Suspension (Acyclovir ) side effects drug center
- Related Drugs
- probenecid
- easy bruising or bleeding, purple or red pinpoint spots under your skin;
- changes in behavior;
- confusion, hallucinations; or
- signs of a kidney problem--little or no urinating; painful or difficult urination; swelling in your feet or ankles; feeling tired or short of breath.
- mild skin pain;
- rash, itching;
- nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;
- headache; or
- mouth pain while using an acyclovir buccal tablet.
What is Zovirax?
Zovirax (acyclovir suspension) is a nucleoside analogue used to treat herpes zoster (shingles), to treat initial episodes and manage recurrent episodes of genital herpes, and to treat chickenpox (varicella).
What Are Side Effects of Zovirax?
Side effects of Zovirax include:
Dosage for Zovirax
The dose of Zovirax to treat acute herpes zoster is 800 mg every 4 hours orally, 5 times daily for 7 to 10 days. The dose of Zovirax to treat initial genital herpes is 200 mg every 4 hours, 5 times daily for 10 days. The dose of Zovirax used for chronic suppressive therapy for recurrent genital herpes is 400 mg 2 times daily for up to 12 months, followed by re-evaluation. The dose of Zovirax to treat chickenpox in children (2 years of age and older) is 20 mg/kg per dose orally 4 times daily (80 mg/kg/day) for 5 days. Children over 40 kg should receive the adult dose for chickenpox. The dose of Zovirax to treat chickenpox adults and children over 40 kg is 800 mg 4 times daily for 5 days.
Zovirax In Children
Safety and effectiveness of oral formulations of Zovirax in pediatric patients younger than 2 years of age have not been established.
What Drugs, Substances, or Supplements Interact with Zovirax?
Zovirax may interact with other medicines such as:
Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.
Zovirax During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant before using Zovirax; it is unknown how it would affect a fetus. Zovirax passes into breast milk and should be administered to a nursing mother with caution. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.
Additional Information
Our Zovirax (acyclovir suspension) Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
IMAGES
See ImagesGet emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
Common side effects may include:
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Read the entire detailed patient monograph for Zovirax Suspension (Acyclovir )
SIDE EFFECTS
Herpes Simplex
Short-Term Administration
The most frequent adverse events reported during clinical trials of treatment of genital herpes with ZOVIRAX 200 mg administered orally 5 times daily every 4 hours for 10 days were nausea and/or vomiting in 8 of 298 patient treatments (2.7%). Nausea and/or vomiting occurred in 2 of 287 (0.7%) patients who received placebo.
Long-Term Administration
The most frequent adverse events reported in a clinical trial for the prevention of recurrences with continuous administration of 400 mg (two 200-mg capsules) 2 times daily for 1 year in 586 patients treated with ZOVIRAX were nausea (4.8%) and diarrhea (2.4%). The 589 control patients receiving intermittent treatment of recurrences with ZOVIRAX for 1 year reported diarrhea (2.7%), nausea (2.4%), and headache (2.2%).
Herpes Zoster
The most frequent adverse event reported during 3 clinical trials of treatment of herpes zoster (shingles) with 800 mg of oral ZOVIRAX 5 times daily for 7 to 10 days in 323 patients was malaise (11.5%). The 323 placebo recipients reported malaise (11.1%).
Chickenpox
The most frequent adverse event reported during 3 clinical trials of treatment of chickenpox with oral ZOVIRAX at doses of 10 to 20 mg/kg 4 times daily for 5 to 7 days or 800 mg 4 times daily for 5 days in 495 patients was diarrhea (3.2%). The 498 patients receiving placebo reported diarrhea (2.2%).
Observed During Clinical Practice
In addition to adverse events reported from clinical trials, the following events have been identified during postapproval use of ZOVIRAX. Because they are reported voluntarily from a population of unknown size, estimates of frequency cannot be made. These events have been chosen for inclusion due to either their seriousness, frequency of reporting, potential causal connection to ZOVIRAX, or a combination of these factors.
General: Anaphylaxis, angioedema, fever, headache, pain, peripheral edema.
Nervous: Aggressive behavior, agitation, ataxia, coma, confusion, decreased consciousness, delirium, dizziness, dysarthria, encephalopathy, hallucinations, paresthesia, psychosis, seizure, somnolence, tremors. These symptoms may be marked, particularly in older adults or in patients with renal impairment (see PRECAUTIONS).
Digestive: Diarrhea, gastrointestinal distress, nausea.
Hematologic and Lymphatic: Anemia, leukocytoclastic vasculitis, leukopenia, lymphadenopathy, thrombocytopenia.
Hepatobiliary Tract and Pancreas: Elevated liver function tests, hepatitis, hyperbilirubinemia, jaundice.
Musculoskeletal: Myalgia.
Skin: Alopecia, erythema multiforme, photosensitive rash, pruritus, rash, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, urticaria.
Special Senses: Visual abnormalities.
Urogenital: Renal failure, renal pain (may be associated with renal failure), elevated blood urea nitrogen, elevated creatinine, hematuria (see WARNINGS).
Read the entire FDA prescribing information for Zovirax Suspension (Acyclovir )
© Zovirax Suspension Patient Information is supplied by Cerner Multum, Inc. and Zovirax Suspension Consumer information is supplied by First Databank, Inc., used under license and subject to their respective copyrights.