Acyclovir Cream (5%)

Acyclovir cream is a drug which has antiviral properties. It tends to slow down the growth along with reducing the spread of herpes virus such that the body is in a position to fight the infection. Acyclovir cream is also used in the treatment of cold sores and genital herpes lesions. Acyclovir cream in no way can prevent or cure herpes, rather it can only lessen the infection symptoms while also reducing the pace of its spread

Composition of Acyclovir Cream

Acyclovir is a synthetic nucleoside drug analogue which contains 5 percent of acyclovir in the cream. This cream contains 50 milligram of acyclovir in polyethylene glycol base.Acyclovir as such tends to be a white, crystalline powder having a molecular formula of C8H11N5O3 & molecular weight say of 225. The maximum solubility for this drug in water is 2.5 milligram per millilitre at 37°C.

Uses of Acyclovir Cream

Acyclovir cream is used for treating fever blisters and cold sores. It tends to speed up the healing of sores along with decreasing the symptoms of the disease like tingling, burning, pain, itching etc. Acyclovir tends to belong to the class of drugs known as antivirals.This medication can also be used in the treatment of genital herpes.

Acyclovir 5% Cream

Side effects of Acyclovir Cream

When Acyclovir cream is applied, the following are some of the severe side effects which one might experience:

  • Hives
  • Difficulty in breathing
  • Some degree of swelling on the face, lips, throat or tongue
  • Swelling in the feet or in the ankles
  • Feeling of tiredness or shortness of breath

When Acyclovir cream is applied, the following are some of the common side effects which one might experience:

  • Dry or cracked skin
  • Peeling of the lips
  • General dryness or flaking of the treated skin
  • burning, stinging feeling while application of the medicine
  • Itching when the medicine is applied
  • Rashes, itches and severe form of dizziness

Contraindications of Acyclovir Cream

Acyclovir should not be used by one in the following cases:

  • If one is allergic to acyclovir or any of the ingredients in the acyclovir cream
  • If one is allergic to valacyclovir
  • If one is pregnant or planning to get pregnant
  • If one is doing breast feeding
  • If one is using some form of prescription or some non prescription drug or some dietary supplement or some herbal preparation
  • If one is allergic to some medicines or some foods or to some other substances
  • If one has a weak immune system and one tends to fall sick easily

Pregnancy and Acyclovir Cream

Acyclovir cream should be used during pregnancy only under the doctor’s consent. One should actually discuss with the doctor about pregnancy and the cream. Basically this cream can only be used if the benefits of using this cream far surpass the consequences of using the cream. It is actually not known if the medicine can pass into the breast milk or not. Hence if one is breast feeding, the doctor needs to be made aware of this. The doctor needs to be taken into confidence about the risks involved.