Acyclovir is an antiviral drug recommended by physicians for both prevention and medication of herpes. It is also used for the prevention of the recurrence of thyroid cancer. It has also been proven effective for the treatment of chickenpox and shingles thanks to its unique qualities as a guanosine analogue antiviral drug. This drug is included in the list of essential medicines released by the World Health Organization. Its most common trade name for marketing purposes is Zovirax. The drug was also used for hypercholesterolemia but was recalled due to cardiac side effects.
Short-Term Side Effects
The most common short term side effects of Acyclovir include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, encephalopathy, headache, hallucinations, dizziness, edema, sore throat, constipation, abdominal pain, hair loss, rashes, and weakness. Such conditions usually go away on their own after a day or two, but it is still recommended that you stop medication and consult a doctor if symptoms persist.
Long-Term Side Effects
Long term use of Acyclovir is known to cause swelling in some parts of the body, loss of appetite, leukopenia, crystalluria, anorexia, fatigue, vertigo, hepatitis, anaphylaxis, neutropenia, and even Stevens Johnson syndrome. Overdose could lead to convulsions and urination problems. Patients with history of kidney disease should consult a doctor first before ingesting this drug because prolonged intake of the said substance is said to worsen the mentioned pre-existing conditions. Acyclovir is not expected to be harmful to unborn infants, but consultation with a physician is still recommended before intake.
Dosage | Quantity | Price Without Insurance |
CVS Pharmacy |
| 400mg | 30 tablets | $21.00 |
| 800mg | 30 tablets | $46.00 |
Kroger |
| 400mg | 30 tablets | $51.00 |
| 800mg | 30 tablets | $49.00 |
Publix |
| 400mg | 30 tablets | $27.00 |
| 800mg | 30 tablets | $48.00 |
Rite Aid |
| 400mg | 30 tablets | $40.00 |
| 800mg | 30 tablets | $45.00 |
Sams Club |
| 400mg | 30 tablets | $31.50 |
| 800mg | 30 tablets | $46.50 |
Target |
| 400mg | 30 tablets | $20.00 |
| 800mg | 30 tablets | $41.00 |
Walgreens |
| 400mg | 30 tablets | $24.00 |
| 800mg | 30 tablets | $62.00 |
Walmart |
| 400mg | 30 tablets | $27.00 |
| 800mg | 30 tablets | $50.00 |
Drug Interaction
Acyclovir has several known drug interactions which should be avoided in fear of serious side effects which could prove to be lethal at some point. If you are taking medication such as Benemid, Probenecid, Ketoconazole, Interferon or Zidovudine, then it is advised that you consult your doctor first in order to adjust the dosage to work better for you.
How It Works
What Acyclovir does is suppress the activities of the herpes virus through its conversion to aciclovir monophosphate by the viral thymidine kinase. Once the final transformation to aciclovir triphosphate (ACV-TP) is reached, DNA polymerases are directly affected through inhibition and inactivation, after which, the ACV-TP incorporates itself to the viral DNA chain. Acyclovir ushered in the new era of antiviral medication thanks to its low cytotoxicity. In addition, resistance to aciclovir has proven to be rare for most patients.
Generic Alternatives
Acyclovir Price relies on the drugstore from which you are buying the drug. The average Acyclovir Price tends to fall between the $7 to $16 range for 30 tablets of 400 mg each from retailer stores such as Walmart, Kmart, and Walgreens. Acyclovir Price could be significantly reduced if a promo coupon is presented in certain drugstores or purchased online. Acyclovir is the generic name of Zovirax and comes in the form of tablets in 400 mg and 800 mg varieties. It also comes in capsule, oral suspension, and ointment tube variants depending on your physician’s prescription. Other brand names include Cyclovir, Herpex, Acivir, and Acivirax.
Long term use of Acyclovir is known to cause swelling in some parts of the body, loss of appetite, leukopenia, crystalluria, anorexia, fatigue, vertigo, hepatitis, anaphylaxis, neutropenia, and even Stevens Johnson syndrome. Overdose could lead to convulsions and urination problems. Patients with history of kidney disease should consult a doctor first before ingesting this drug because prolonged intake of the said substance is said to worsen the mentioned pre-existing conditions. Acyclovir is not expected to be harmful to unborn infants, but consultation with a physician is still recommended before intake.
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