About Acyclovir

If you’ve used Acyclovir, please help others by sharing your experience with side effects. What would you tell your best friend about this product? Please remember that we do not give medical advice. That is for your local health care provider, who is familiar with your medical history.

Subj: Acyclovir drug interactions
Date: 5/26/2011
Is it safe for me to take claritin for my allergies while taking Acyclovir? And also are there any long term complications that can occur while taking Acyclovir?

Tammy

AskDocWeb: We didn’t find any drug interactions between Claritin and Acyclovir but ALWAYS check with your doctor or pharmacist to be sure. Here is a list of the drugs that are known to interact with Acyclovir:

Major drug interactions

• Tizanidine

Moderate drug interactions

• AccessPak for HIV PEP Basic (emtricitabine/tenofovir)
• AccessPak for HIV PEP Expanded with Kaletra (emtricitabine/lopinavir/ritonavir/tenofovir)
• AccessPak for HIV PEP Expanded with Viracept (emtricitabine/nelfinavir/tenofovir)
• Alimta (pemetrexed)
• Atripla (efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir)
• Baraclude (entecavir)
• Cerebyx (fosphenytoin)
• Demerol (meperidine)
• Dilantin (phenytoin)
• Eskalith (lithium)
• Eskalith-CR (lithium)
• Gengraf (cyclosporine)
• Hepsera (adefovir)
• Ifex (ifosfamide)
• Ifex/Mesnex (ifosfamide/mesna)
• Lithobid (lithium)
• Lithonate (lithium)
• Lithotabs (lithium)
• Mepergan (meperidine/promethazine)
• Mepergan Fortis (meperidine/promethazine)
• Meperitab (meperidine)
• Meprozine (meperidine/promethazine)
• Mesantoin (mephenytoin)
• Neoral (cyclosporine)
• Peganone (ethotoin)
• Phenytek (phenytoin)
• Phenytoin Sodium, Prompt (phenytoin)
• Prograf (tacrolimus)
• Regurin (trospium)
• Sanctura (trospium)
• Sanctura XR (trospium)
• Sandimmune (cyclosporine)
• Truvada (emtricitabine/tenofovir)
• Viread (tenofovir)

Minor drug interactions

• Aerolate III (theophylline)
• Aerolate JR (theophylline)
• Aerolate SR (theophylline)
• Ami-rax (ephedrine/hydroxyzine/theophylline)
• Aquaphyllin (theophylline)
• Asbron G (guaifenesin/theophylline)
• Asmalix (theophylline)
• Asthmacon (aminophylline/amobarbital/ephedrine)
• Benemid (probenecid)
• Bronchial (guaifenesin/theophylline)
• Broncodur (guaifenesin/theophylline)
• Broncomar GG (guaifenesin/theophylline)
• Brondelate (guaifenesin/oxtriphylline)
• Bronkodyl (theophylline)
• CellCept (mycophenolate mofetil)
• Choledyl (oxtriphylline)
• Choledyl SA (oxtriphylline)
• Combivir (lamivudine/zidovudine)
• Ed-Bron G (guaifenesin/theophylline)
• Elixophyllin (theophylline)
• Elixophyllin GG (guaifenesin/theophylline)
• Elixophyllin KI (potassium iodide/theophylline)
• Equibron G (guaifenesin/theophylline)
• Glyceryl T (guaifenesin/theophylline)
• Hydrophed (ephedrine/hydroxyzine/theophylline)
• Hydroxy Compound (ephedrine/hydroxyzine/theophylline)
• Marax (ephedrine/hydroxyzine/theophylline)
• Marax DF (ephedrine/hydroxyzine/theophylline)
• Mudrane (aminophylline/ephedrine/phenobarbital/potassium iodide)
• Mudrane GG (aminophylline/ephedrine/guaifenesin/phenobarbital)
• Mudrane GG-2 (aminophylline/guaifenesin)
• Myfortic (mycophenolic acid)
• Namenda (memantine)
• Namenda XR (memantine)
• Phyllocontin (aminophylline)
• Primatene Dual Action (ephedrine/guaifenesin/theophylline)
• Proben-C (colchicine/probenecid)
• Probenecid and Colchicine (colchicine/probenecid)
• Q-B (guaifenesin/theophylline)
• Quadrinal (ephedrine/phenobarbital/potassium iodide/theophylline)
• Quibron (guaifenesin/theophylline)
• Quibron 300 (guaifenesin/theophylline)
• Quibron-T (theophylline)
• Quibron-T/SR (theophylline)
• Respbid (theophylline)
• Retrovir (zidovudine)
• Slo-Bid Gyrocaps (theophylline)
• Slo-Phyllin (theophylline)
• Slo-Phyllin 125 (theophylline)
• Slo-Phyllin 80 (theophylline)
• Slo-Phyllin GG (guaifenesin/theophylline)
• Solu-Phyllin GG (guaifenesin/theophylline)
• T-Phyl (theophylline)
• Tedrigen (ephedrine/phenobarbital/theophylline)
• Theo G (guaifenesin/theophylline)
• Theo-24 (theophylline)
• Theo-Dur (theophylline)
• Theo-Dur Sprinkles (theophylline)
• Theo-Time (theophylline)
• Theo-X (theophylline)
• Theobid (theophylline)
• TheoCap (theophylline)
• Theochron (theophylline)
• Theoclear LA-130 (theophylline)
• Theoclear LA-260 (theophylline)
• Theoclear-80 (theophylline)
• Theocon (guaifenesin/theophylline)
• Theocon Elixir (guaifenesin/oxtriphylline)
• Theodrine (ephedrine/phenobarbital/theophylline)
• Theolair (theophylline)
• Theolair-SR (theophylline)
• Theolate (guaifenesin/theophylline)
• Theomar GG (guaifenesin/theophylline)
• Theomax DF (ephedrine/hydroxyzine/theophylline)
• Theophyll-GG (guaifenesin/theophylline)
• Theophylline KI (potassium iodide/theophylline)
• Theovent (theophylline)
• Trizivir (abacavir/lamivudine/zidovudine)
• Truphylline (aminophylline)
• Truxophyllin (theophylline)
• Uni Bronchial (guaifenesin/theophylline)
• Uni-Dur (theophylline)
• Uniphyl (theophylline)

The long-term use of Acyclovir seems to be well tolerated by most people. However, there is a concern about other conditions that may develop over time. One hazard to watch for is dehydration. Not drinking a sufficient amount of liquids may result in Acyclovir crystals precipitating in the renal tubules, particularly when the drug is injected intravenously. This may cause abnormal renal function, which is usually reversible but may infrequently lead to tubular damage and acute renal failure. Patients who are dehydrated may have an increased risk for nephrotoxicity from acyclovir.

Other diseases and conditions that may develop which could cause problems for those taking Acyclovir include liver disease, electrolyte abnormalities, renal dysfunction, hypernatremia, magnesium imbalance, phosphate imbalance, hypercalcemia, asphyxia, CNS disorders, hyponatremia, hypocalcemia, acidosis, and alkalosis.

There have been a small number of reports from long-term users of Acyclovir reporting leg pain, fatigue, anorexia, depression, hair loss, skin rash, dizziness, sore throat, and medicine taste.

Subj: Acyclovir for fever blister
Date: 6/2/2011
I have a fever blister on my upper lip and the Dr. Prescribed 800 mg tabs taking 2 at a time bid. That’s 1600 mg a day. To take for two days. Is this to much to take?

Bonnie

AskDocWeb: The maximum daily dosage listed in the Physician’s Desk Reference is 4000 mg or 4 grams a day. That means that you are taking 40% of the maximum dosage.

Subj: Burning feet and terrible headaches
Date: 6/7/2011
I have been taking aciclovir for 1 week now, as I was diagnosed with shingles in my face. Since yesterday I have very sensitive and burning feet and terrible headaches since I started on this meds! Can this be due to the medication? I have to take 2 tablets X 5 times a day and feel really ill……I am a migraine sufferer and can’t handle these headaches anymore!!! The tablets I am taking is Lovire 400mg and I have to take 70 tablets over a period. I am also on Lithium and Fluoxetine and would like to know what the interaction is please?

Lynn

AskDocWeb: Headaches are listed among the side effects of acyclovir that may occur initially but usually go away with continued use. If they continue or seem too much to put up with, check with your doctor.

When the virus becomes active in nerve cells it often produces a burning sensation which can occur on any area of the body, including the mouth, chest, legs, and feet. This is not a side effect of Lovire. In some cases, a corticosteroid may be prescribed to relieve the burning sensations. However, a burning skin sensation in the feet may also result from hypothyroidism.

There is a major drug interaction possible between Lithium and Fluoxetine. Lithium may enhance the effects of Fluoxetine (and other SSRIs) and increase the risk of serotonin syndrome, which is a rare but serious and potentially fatal condition. Although the exact mechanism by which lithium increases serotonin is still unknown the interaction has been reported with Fluoxetine. The symptoms of serotonin syndrome may include any of the following:

• Autonomic dysfunction
• blood pressure lability
• diaphoresis (excessive sweating)
• hyperthermia (abnormally high body temperature)
• mydriasis (pupil dilation)
• shivering
• tachycardia abnormally rapid heartbeat (over 100 beats per minute)
• Gastrointestinal symptoms
• abdominal cramping
• diarrhea
• nausea
• vomiting
• Mental status changes
• altered consciousness
• coma
• confusion
• hallucinations
• irritability
• Neuromuscular abnormalities
• ataxia (inability to coordinate voluntary muscle movements)
• hyperreflexia (overactive or over-responsive reflexes)
• myoclonus (twitching of a muscle or group of muscles)
• rigidity
• tremor (shudder or shaking)

On the other hand SSRIs such as Fluoxetine may elevate the plasma concentrations of lithium increasing the risk of lithium toxicity. Excessive sleepiness has been reported with lithium.
It is important to work closely with your doctor and watch for symptoms of the serotonin syndrome during treatment.

As if that wasn’t enough, there is also a moderate drug interaction possible between Lovire (acyclovir) and lithium. Like Fluoxetine, Acyclovir may also increase the serum levels of lithium to a toxic level. The symptoms of lithium toxicity include drowsiness, dizziness, weakness, ataxia, vomiting, diarrhea, thirst, blurry vision, tinnitus, tremor, or increased urination.

Subj: Can acyclovir cause more breakouts?
Date: 6/9/2011
Can acyclovir cause more breakouts or make breakouts occur?

Janedoe

AskDocWeb: No, Acyclovir acts as a growth inhibitor in the virus. It interferes with the ability of the virus to multiply or reproduce itself.

Read more feedback about Acyclovir.

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