Acyclovir for children: instructions for use

Acyclovir is a very popular means of combating herpes viruses. Is such a drug prescribed to children, can it be used for acute respiratory infections and colds, and how to give Acyclovir tablets correctly?

Acyclovir is produced in several forms:

• Pills. They have a white color, a flat surface and risk. Each tablet contains 200 mg or 400 mg of active ingredient. They are packed in blisters of 5-20 pieces, and one pack contains from 10 to 100 tablets.
• Cream for external processing. It is represented by a homogeneous white mass. The percentage of active substance in this acyclovir is 5%. One tube can hold 2 g, 5 g or 10 g of cream. Also, the drug can be packaged in jars, from 5 to 50 g of cream in one package.
• Ointment for external processing. It has a viscous consistency and a white or yellowish-white color. The concentration of the active ingredient in this form of Acyclovir is also 5%. The drug is placed in aluminum tubes or glass jars, and the weight of the drug in one package is from 2 g to 30 g.
• Eye ointment. It is a yellow or white mass. The concentration of the active substance in this dosage form - 3%. One tube of ointment includes 3 or 5 g of the drug.
• Powder, from which a solution is prepared for vein administration. One vial may contain 0.25 g, 0.5 g or 1 g of the active substance. The number of flakonchik in one package is 1, 5 or 10.

Such forms of medicine as syrup, suppositories or suspensions are not released.

The main component of any form of medication that provides its therapeutic effect is acyclovir. Additional substances differ in different types of drug:

• In the cream, they are represented by liquid paraffin, cetyl alcohol, a macrologist, propylene glycol, water, and other chemicals.
• In Acyclovir ointment, auxiliary ingredients are propylene glycol, water, emulsifiers, nipazol and other compounds.
• Microcrystalline cellulose, starch, Mg stearate, Na crosscarmelose and other substances are added to the tablets.
• There are no additional chemical compounds in the injection form.

In the following video, a practicing dermatovenerologist: Makarchuk Vyacheslav Vasilievich tells about the benefits, the principle of action and the possible side effects of the drug Acyclovir.

Acyclovir is an antiviral agent effectively acting on:

• Herpes viruses 1 and 2 types.
• Varicella Zoster viruses.
• Epstein-Barr viruses.
• Cytomegalovirus.

The drug directly affects DNA in viral cells, resulting in the reproduction of the pathogen stops. Penetrating into the cells of the virus, the drug breaks the DNA chains and prevents its replication. At the same time, Acyclovir almost does not affect the cells of the patient's body.

The use of Acyclovir is shown:

• For herpes infection. The drug is applied topically when herpes on the lipsand also on the genitals. The drug is indicated for herpes sore throat, with dermatitis, with stomatitis and conjunctivitisprovoked by the herpes simplex virus.
• With severe or moderate chickenpox. Acyclovir is advised to be used in infants with chicken pox for up to a year (for example, at 10 months), since in the first year of life this infectious disease differs mainly in its severe course. Also, the drug is used in congenital form of chickenpox.
• With shingles. This disease, triggered by the same virus as chickenpox, most often occurs in old age.
• With the preventive purpose, if the child has immunodeficiency and there is a high risk of infection with pathogens that are sensitive to Acyclovir.

In addition, the use of Acyclovir is required for infectious mononucleosis. With flu and ARVI, this medicine is often not used, because it does not affect their pathogens, but can be prescribed prophylactically at high risk of attaching a herpes infection.

Treatment of the child's skin with a cream or ointment Acyclovir is permissible to carry out from birth. When indicated, the drug in the form of intravenous injections can be used at any age, including an infant. As for the tablets, then such Acyclovir is given from 1 year.

You might be interested to watch the release of the program of the famous children's doctor Evgeny Komarovsky, dedicated to the herpes virus in children:

Treatment with Acyclovir is not recommended:

• In the presence of hypersensitivity to any component of the drug.
• With mild form of chicken pox.
• With bacterial infections, for example, with streptoderma.

For dehydration, neurological problems or renal pathologies, Acyclovir should be used carefully. 5% ointment or cream should not be lubricated mucous membranes.

You may be interested to see the release of the program of the famous children's doctor Evgeny Komarovsky, dedicated to the herpes virus in children:

• In Acyclovir note the ability to influence the central nervous system. Taking this medication can lead to dizziness, weakness, fatigue, drowsiness, tremor of the extremities, and headaches. Occasionally, a small patient may experience hallucinations.
• The digestive system of the child may respond to treatment with Acyclovir diarrhea, nausea, disruption of the liver, abdominal pain, vomiting. Many mothers are interested in how to support the liver when taking Acyclovir, but if this organ is healthy for a child, additional medications are not required to support it. If the doctor has identified liver disease, he will also prescribe hepatoprotective medications at the same time as Acyclovir.
• Taking Acyclovir can cause a decrease in the level of red blood cells and white blood cells in the blood, as well as changes in the number of platelets.
• External use of the drug sometimes causes skin irritation or peeling. Also at the site of lubrication may occur allergies in the form of a rash.
• If the drug is administered intravenously, serious side effects such as renal failure or seizures may occur. In rare cases, such use of Acyclovir leads to psychosis or coma.
• Phlebitis may occur at the injection site of the vein, and if Aciclovir accidentally gets under the skin, necrosis is possible.
• Eye ointment can cause conjunctivitis, blepharitis, keratopathy, or severe burning when applied to the mucous membrane.

For the treatment of infections caused by herpes simplex viruses, one-and-a-half tablets are often prescribed to children aged 1-2 years, and a whole tablet to children over two years old. The drug is taken four or five times a day.It is recommended to drink a pill with water in large quantities.. The average duration of therapy with Acyclovir is 5 days, but with the testimony of the tablet you can drink up to 10 days.

With chickenpox, one-time dosage of Acyclovir tablets is often selected individually, since for effective treatment a small child needs to calculate the dose by weight. She is 20 mg of active substance per kilogram of baby weight. The calculated dose is given 4 times a day for 5 days.

For example, a child at 1.5 years old weighs 11 kilograms and, according to calculations, a single dosage will be 220 mg, therefore, he is given 1 tablet each containing 200 mg of acyclovir. And at the age of 7, with a weight of 21 kg, 420 mg of active substance is required per dose, therefore, a child can be given either 2 tablets with 200 mg of acyclovir or 1 tablet containing 400 mg of the drug. The maximum single dose is 800 mg of acyclovir.

Ointment Acyclovir Carefully treat the affected areas of the skin, trying not to smear clean skin with the preparation, because the drug forms a dense film on the surface. The dosage of ointment is determined by the doctor, taking into account the weight of the baby and the area of ​​his skin. Treatment of the rash begins from the first days of appearance, but at night the medicine is not applied to the skin. Treatment often lasts 5 days.

Cream Acyclovir apply with a clean hand or cotton swab on the affected skin up to 5 times a day. The amount of medication in this form is determined individually. Skin treatment is prescribed for a period of 5 to 10 days.

Eye ointment apply 5 times a day with pauses between laying in the lower conjunctival sac about 4 hours. The strip of ointment for 1 application has a length of about 1 cm. After recovery, the treatment is continued for at least three more days.

The dosage of Acyclovir for intravenous injections is calculated by body weight. (for newborns) or by body surface area (in children older than 3 months). The drug is administered at intervals of 8 hours, controlling kidney function. If changes in creatinine levels are found in analyzes, the dosage is adjusted.

Often, injections are made within five days, but depending on the disease and the patient’s response to treatment, the shots may be prescribed for a longer period. For example, in case of herpetic encephalitis, Acyclovir is administered 10 days.

Acyclovir injection is a slow infusion over one hour or longer. (drug is administered drip). To make an injection, water for injection or sodium chloride solution is added to the powder. Acyclovir can also be combined with glucose solutions.

Cases of overdose with local use of Acyclovir is not marked. If you take a lot of pills such a drug inside, it will lead to neurological disorders, nausea, headaches, shortness of breath, the appearance of loose stools or vomiting. In severe cases, overdosing causes renal failure, seizures and coma. The treatment uses symptomatic therapy and measures aimed at maintaining vital functions.

If you take Acyclovir together with other drugs that have a toxic effect on the kidneys, this will enhance the nephrotoxic effect of the treatment.

To purchase any dosage form of Acyclovir, you do not need to present a prescription from a doctor.

Storage place Acyclovir should be dry, protected from direct sunlight and inaccessible to kids. The optimal temperature range for storing the cream is + 12 + 15 ° С, and ointment or tablets - + 15 + 25 ° С.

After the release date of the tablet form, it can be stored for up to 3 years.The shelf life of the cream is 2 years. Opened tube of eye ointment should be used for 1 month.

In most cases, the use of Acyclovir about such a drug respond positively. Parents like the quick effect of the drug and many dosage forms, and among the disadvantages are side effects such as headaches, nausea, or allergies. Mothers who gave Acyclovir to a child with moderately severe chickenpox confirm that the medicine effectively helps with temperature and heavy varicella eruptions.

Replacing Acyclovir can be other drugs that have the same active substance and the same action. The most popular of these drugs are:

• Zovirax. Such an analogue of Acyclovir is produced by a British company in the form of tablets (containing 200 mg of acyclovir), 5% cream, eye ointment with a concentration of the active substance of 3% and powder for injection which is put up in vials.
• Acyclovir-acre. This domestic preparation is represented by 5% ointment and tablets with two dosages of the active compound (200 and 400 mg).

• Virolex. Such antiviral medicaments are produced in Slovenia in the form of tablets (contain 200 mg of active ingredient each), 3% eye ointment, lyophilisate for injections, as well as 5% cream.
• Cyklovir. This Indian drug is represented by a cream with a concentration of 5% acyclovir and tablets containing 200 mg of the active ingredient.

• Acyclovir Hexal. Such antiviral medication is produced in Germany in the form of a 5% externally applied cream.
• Vivoraks. This Indian analogue of Acyclovir is produced in tablets (each contains 200 mg of active ingredient) and in external form (5% cream).

• Acyclovir Belupo. This antiviral drug is produced in Croatia in the form of a 5% cream and coated tablets containing 400 mg of acyclovir each.
• Gerperax. This is another drug containing acyclovir from India. It is produced both in tablet form (each tablet gives 200 mg of the active compound), and as a 5% ointment.