Acyclovir (Antivir)
Antiviral drug like Acyclovir (Antivir) for Harpes and Varicella zoster.
Acyclovir is a medication used to manage and treat infections caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). It is FDA approved to treat genital herpes and HSV encephalitis. Some off-label uses include cold sores, shingles, and chickenpox. It is in the antiviral class of medications. This activity outlines the indications, action, pharmacology, and contraindications for acyclovir as a valuable agent in treating HSV and varicella-zoster-caused diseases.
Adverse Effects
Most commonly, patients experience malaise.
Less commonly, patients experience inflammation or phlebitis at the infusion site, nausea, vomiting, transaminitis, and rash (including Steven-Johnson syndrome) when taken intravenously. Rotating infusion sites and decreasing the final infusion concentration to less than 10 mg/mL can help prevent inflammation/phlebitis at the infusion site.Patients also may experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and headache when taken orally.
Least commonly, patients experience abdominal pain, aggression/confusion, agitation, alopecia, anaphylaxis, anemia, angioedema, anorexia, ataxia, coma, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), dizziness, and fatigue.
In certain pediatric patients, acyclovir has been shown to decrease hemoglobin concentrations and the absolute neutrophil count.
Product Information
Maker:
Allister Biotech
Type:
ITU, ICU & ICCU patient
