Increasingly, in the appointments of doctors you can find the drug "Zovirax". What is this tool? How does the instruction recommend using Zovirax for children? Is this medicine dangerous? What are its contraindications? What side effects can cause? What do patient reviews say about the drug in question? You can find detailed answers to all these and some other questions by reading this article.
Issue form
Instructions for "Zovirax" informs that the drug in question is available in several forms, which allows you to expand the range of use of this drug and provides an opportunity to choose the most suitable treatment option for the patient. So, there are several forms of release of this medication. Among them:
- tablets (each package contains 5 separate blisters of 5 tablets each, which is very economical);
- tube with cream (in each package you can find 1 tube with 2 g of medicine);
- powder for making medicinal solution for injection in a special glass vial (each box contains 5 such vials);
- eye ointment tube (pack of 1 tube of 4.5 g).
Depending on the characteristics and course of the course of a particular disease, it may be necessary to use various forms of the drug in a complex manner. Therefore, it is extremely important that this kind of prescription is made by a qualified attending physician, and not by the patient himself. After all, only a specialist will be able to correctly assess the severity of the situation and prescribe the treatment that will be truly effective in a particular case.
Composition
Thanks to what treatment with the drug in question brings such amazing results? It's all about the active ingredient "Zovirax". The instruction says that it is acyclovir. Depending on the form of release used, one working dose of the drug contains a certain amount of the specified substance. So, for example, in one tablet 200 mg of acyclovir. Each gram of ointment or cream contains 50 mg of the described substance, and each vial of powder intended for the preparation of a solution for injection contains 250 mg. It is thanks to the competent dosage of acyclovir that a good therapeutic effect of the drug in question is achieved.
Indications for use
In what cases would it be appropriate to use this medicine? "Zovirax" has a number of very specific indications for use, which should be guided by doctors in the process of forming an appointment. So, among these indications arethe following:
- treatment of newborns with herpes infection type I and II;
- prevention of various infectious diseases that develop on the basis of the herpes simplex virus in those patients who have been immunodeficient for some time;
- treatment of infectious diseases associated with exposure to herpes zoster or varicella;
- prophylaxis of cytomegalovirus infection during brain transplant operations;
- infectious diseases affecting the skin, mucous membranes, caused by the herpes virus type I and II (in particular, it is used to stop primary genital herpes and to prevent its recurrence).
The main indication for the use of "Zovirax" for the eyes of the instructions for use calls keratitis of viral etiology (namely, those cases when the development of the disease is provoked by exposure to the herpes simplex virus).
If you have any of the above contraindications, be sure to consult a doctor. The specialist will be able to prescribe competent treatment. Perhaps he will prescribe you the use of the drug "Zovirax" or its analogues, which will be more appropriate in your particular case. This will help you maintain your physical well-being. Don't make your own appointments. Uncontrolled treatment can lead to unpredictable consequences, often extremely unpleasant. The sooner you contact a qualified specialist, the more chances you will have once and for allsay goodbye to the problem. Loss of time, in this case, is tantamount to loss of he alth. Rely on the knowledge and experience of a specialist and get a pleasant result.
Side effects
Like any other drug, Zovirax is not completely safe for the patient's body. A certain indirect effect is on all body systems, which sometimes leads to the manifestation of unpleasant side effects. So, according to the instructions for use, Zovirax tablets and powder intended for the manufacture of an injection solution, as a rule, have a systemic effect on the patient's body. Such forms of the drug can cause many adverse reactions. Among them are the following:
- vomit;
- leucopenia;
- acute renal failure;
- failures in sleep and wakefulness;
- hyperbilirubinemia;
- Quincke's edema;
- nausea;
- thrombocytopenia;
- failures in bowel movements;
- severe local inflammatory reactions;
- fatigue;
- skin itching;
- pain in the epigastric region;
- anemia;
- anaphylactoid reactions;
- increased activity of liver enzymes;
- rash;
- headache;
- shortness of breath;
- photosensitivity;
- dizziness;
- necrosis;
- development of seizures;
- hallucinations;
- urticaria;
- coma;
- disorientation in space;
- increasing the amount of urea inblood;
- confusion;
- increase in blood creatinine.
That is why you should not start treatment with Zovirax tablets on your own. Instructions for use strongly recommends that you first consult with your doctor. Proper administration will significantly reduce the likelihood of any side effects.
Instruction "Zovirax" for the eyes also recommends using with caution. Periodic use of the medication in question can lead to the development of the following unpleasant effects:
- burning;
- angioedema;
- blepharitis;
- punctate superficial keratopathy;
- conjunctivitis.
As a rule, most of these adverse reactions do not require specific treatment and resolve on their own over time. However, if this does not happen, a specialist should be consulted.
Instructions for use cream "Zovirax" calls one of the safest dosage forms of the drug in question. When using it, the following side effects may develop:
- burning;
- skin peeling;
- irritation of the skin at the site of application of the cream;
- dry;
- itch;
- contact dermatitis;
- angioneurotic edema.
It is important to strictly adhere to the instructions for use of Zovirax cream to minimize the possibility ofeven these few effects. And then the use of the drug will lead only to a positive impact on your he alth.
Use during pregnancy
Can I use "Zovirax" during pregnancy? Instructions for use assures that the drug in question does not have any teratogenic, mutagenic or embryotoxic effect on the body of the expectant mother. At first glance, it may seem that women in position can freely use this medication at any time, because theoretically it should not harm their unborn baby. However, not all so simple. Pay special attention to the fact that any expectant mother who wants to use "Zovirax" during pregnancy, the instruction recommends first of all to consult with your doctor. Such a specialist will be able to correctly assess all possible risks for adequate fetal development and the expected benefits to the he alth of the mother and make a competent conclusion as to whether it is worth starting such treatment at all. A pregnant woman should trust only such expert opinion, and not the advice of friends and relatives. Remember, you and only you are responsible for your own he alth and the he alth of your baby. So please take this matter as seriously as possible.
It is important to consider that the use of those forms of the drug that have an obvious systemic effect (we are talking about a powder for making a solution intended forinjections, as well as tablets), can be dangerous even during breastfeeding. This is due to the fact that the main active ingredient of the drug is able to penetrate into breast milk and affect the child's body. Therefore, experts recommend stopping the use of the drug in question during lactation. Talk to your he althcare provider about alternative treatments during this time.
How to use
Tablets "Zovirax" instructions for use recommends taking regardless of meals. It is also important to drink the medicine with plenty of clean drinking water. Herpes therapy includes taking 200 mg of the drug in question 5 times a day. As a rule, treatment should be continued for at least 5 days. If the drug is used for prevention purposes, then the dosage and duration of treatment should be determined by a specialist. Tablets "Zovirax" instructions for use advises to use exactly in accordance with the recommendations of the doctor. Sometimes it may be necessary to use different forms of this drug in a complex way.
There is a special instruction for the use of Zovirax tablets for children. If we are talking about the prevention or treatment of various infectious diseases caused by the herpes simplex virus, then the age of the child plays a key role. So, for example, if a child is older than 2 years, then he is prescribed a dose of the drug, similar to that which would be prescribed to an adult patient. Treatment of babies under the age of 2 years is carried out using half the dose. Correction of the condition with chickenpox or herpes zoster with the help of the drug in question is possible for children of all ages, provided that the dosage is strictly observed. So, the instruction recommends using Zovirax tablets for children in the following quantities:
- babies up to 2 years - 200 mg;
- children from 2 to 6 years - 400 mg;
- children over 6 years - 800 mg.
This single dose is taken 4 times a day. The instructions for use recommend continuing treatment with Zovirax tablets for children for 5 days. If the child suffers from renal insufficiency, then it is necessary to constantly take into account creatinine clearance.
"Zovirax" in ampoules, the instruction recommends injecting drip (intravenously). It is important to administer the drug to the patient for at least an hour. How should drug doses be calculated for various patient groups? If we are talking about the treatment of those infectious diseases caused by the herpes simplex virus, then it is necessary to introduce a dose of 5 mg per kilogram of human body weight. However, this is relevant only in cases where therapy is carried out for a patient with a normal immune status. For those who suffer from immunodeficiency, the dose should be doubled. This is true in the treatment of herpes zoster, chickenpox and herpetic encephalitis. Drug infusions should be repeated every 8 hours.
Those who need prophylaxis of cytomegalovirus infection - for example, it is necessary for those who have recently undergone surgery forbone marrow transplantation, - a single dose is increased to 500 mg / m2. The procedure will need to be repeated every 8 hours. It is necessary to start using the drug at least 5 days before the operation and the next 30 days after it has been carried out. Children in this case should be given the same dose. Newborns for the treatment of herpes should receive 10 mg/kg of body weight every 8 hours. Children with prescribed droppers of the drug at a dose of 250 mg / m2 with an interval of 8 hours. For immunocompromised children, the dose should be doubled.
Use the cream "Zovirax" instruction recommends topically. To achieve the best effect, it is necessary to apply a small amount of the drug to the affected area of \u200b\u200bthe skin. The procedure should be repeated up to 5 times a day. As a rule, the duration of treatment is 4 days. If the desired effect has not been achieved, the doctor may recommend that you continue to use Zovirax cream. The instruction allows you to use it for no more than 10 days in a row.
Eye ointment must be carefully placed into the conjunctival sac. It is optimal to apply a strip of ointment about 10 mm long. It is this amount of the drug that doctors recommend using in one procedure. Repeat the application of the drug should be 5 times a day. It is important to observe the necessary duration of the course of treatment. "Zovirax" eye instruction recommends using not only until the symptoms that bother you disappear, but also for the next 3 days after that.
Contraindications
Some people take the drug "Zovirax" for herpes instructions for use with caution or even prohibits. We are talking about patients who belong to the so-called risk groups or have any contraindications to the use of the drug in question. Be sure to make sure that you are not one of them before starting the application. So, among the main contraindications to the use of Zovirax for herpes, the instructions for use highlight the following:
- High personal sensitivity to the main active ingredient or any auxiliary components that make up the drug in question (including sensitivity to the substances valaciclovir or acyclovir).
- Disruption of the normal functioning of the kidneys.
- A state of dehydration.
There is also a group of patients to whom the drug in question should be used with extreme caution, while under the constant supervision of a competent attending physician. This category includes:
- patients who routinely develop unwanted side effects when using cytotoxic drugs;
- patients who have been suffering from some kind of neurological disorder for some time.
If you know that you have contraindications that prevent you from using this drug in treatment, be sure to inform yourtreating doctor. He will be able to help you by correctly adjusting the treatment regimen.
Overdose
Obviously, non-compliance with the dosage of the drug prescribed by a specialist can lead to disastrous consequences. So, if you deliberately underestimate the dose, for example, for reasons of economy, this can lead to the fact that the treatment will not give the expected results, and the course of the disease will only worsen. On the other hand, exceeding the established dose can lead to the manifestation of effects characteristic of an overdose of the drug in question. Among the possible reactions that are potentially possible in the described case, the following are distinguished:
- Increase in serum creatinine in the blood.
- Hallucinations.
- Increasing the amount of urea.
- Convulsions.
- Kidney failure.
- Excitement.
- Confusion.
- Coma.
Interestingly, one specific antidote that could completely remove the intoxication that has arisen does not exist. That is why patients in a state of overdose, as a rule, do hemodialysis. Of course, it would be much wiser to carefully follow the recommendations of your doctor and not change the dose on your own. It is also important to keep track of how much of the drug you have taken in order to avoid duplication of dose and, as a result, an overdose. To cope with its consequences at home will not work. Intoxication of this kind can be removed only within the walls of a medical institution with the necessary equipment and with the participation of qualifiedhe alth workers. If you notice signs of intoxication, see a doctor immediately.
Storage conditions
In order for the drug in question not to lose its useful properties ahead of time, the instruction recommends storing Zovirax strictly in properly selected conditions. We are talking about a place protected from moisture and direct sunlight, the air temperature in which would not exceed 25 degrees Celsius. This will ensure the effectiveness of this medication throughout the shelf life, which is 5 years from the date of manufacture.
Analogues
For some reason, for example, because of the relatively high cost, Zovirax may not be suitable for you. Instructions for its use in such cases recommends resorting to the help of a substitute drug. We are talking about drugs of the same pharmacological group (antiviral drugs) that have the same active substance (acyclovir). Among them, the following medicines are distinguished:
- "Atsik";
- "Gerpevir";
- "Aciclovir";
- "Virolex";
- "Acyclostad";
- "Geviran";
- "Lipster".
However, it is important to remember that before using any analogues of Zovirax, the instructions for use strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor. Notyou should rely only on the words of pharmacists and arbitrarily replace one drug with another. After all, only a specialist who is well aware of the state of your he alth will be able to prescribe the correct dosage of a new drug and draw up a correct treatment regimen. Do not neglect the need to communicate with your doctor.
Positive customer reviews
The drug in question receives a lot of feedback on the Web. Among them there are both negative and positive. To help you form your own opinion about the effectiveness of this drug, we have analyzed both and will provide you with the results later in this article.
There are a lot of advantages of the medication in question. So, among them the following stand out:
- High efficiency in the fight against the herpes virus.
- Easy to use.
- More efficient than its cheap counterparts.
- Economical packaging, the drug in question lasts for a long time.
- Virtually no side effects.
- The ointment does not spread when used on the lips.
- Available drug: it can be purchased at absolutely any pharmacy.
- Leaves no marks or scars after healing wounds caused by herpes.
- Quickly relieves discomfort (after the first application).
- Beautiful packaging.
- Sometimes doctors prescribe the drug in question as an effective remedy in the fight against stomatitis.
Of course, the mainThe advantage of the drug under consideration should be considered its high efficiency in the process of combating viruses. After all, this is exactly what you expect from a drug of this pharmacological group. Regardless of anything, the quality of the drug is expressed in what results it brings. And we can say with confidence that Zovirax copes with its role perfectly. Other benefits may be of more or less importance to some, but all together they form a good reputation for the drug and make it attractive to other patients. Does he seem like that to you too? Be sure to consider the other side of the coin as well, so you don't get frustrated when you encounter some difficulties.
Negative customer reviews
The disadvantages of this drug also do not hold. And although the instructions for use of "Zovirax" describe only from the best side, it is worth considering what worries patients about its use. The following are the main points that upset patients who began their treatment with the drug in question. Among them are the following:
- Quite high cost.
- For some, the drug in question helps only at the first signs of the manifestation of herpes on the lips, and in more advanced cases it turns out to be absolutely useless.
- There is a much cheaper alternative, so some simply do not see the point in purchasing this particular, more expensive drug.
- Must usefor a long time (sometimes up to 5 days).
- Does not stop the spread of the virus until it is completely gone, meaning you can still infect others during treatment.
- The duration of use of the drug is limited, some do not have time to cope with the virus during this time.
- Not recommended for pregnant or nursing mothers.
- Not for use by children under 12.
- Sometimes leaves burns on he althy skin.
- Sometimes causes allergic reactions.
- Fixes the problem, doesn't cure it: herpes comes back again and again.
- Complex treatment with several types of Zovirax is often required.
- Possible slight itching after applying the ointment.
Some of the items on this list may seem like a serious flaw to one person and an absolute trifle to another. However, they should not be ignored. The very presence of such disturbing reviews suggests that, despite the assurances of the instructions for use, Zovirax is far from being effective in the vast majority of cases. There are many people to whom the drug in question did not help at all. Others experienced unpleasant side effects that had to be treated separately. And some simply do not want to pay more when there are cheaper analogues. Which side to lean on is up to you. However, we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor before making any decision. He will be able to assess all the risks and expected benefits fromuse of the medicinal product in question that will occur in your particular case.
Conclusion
"Zovirax" - an effective means of combating herpes. It should only be used as directed by a doctor. This is largely due to the fact that Zovirax comes in several forms (including cream, eye ointment, tablets and injections). Which one should be used in this particular case, only a specialist can determine. And sometimes you will need to use several dosage forms of this drug at the same time to get the best result.
Pay due attention to familiarize yourself with contraindications and side effects. This is necessary in order to avoid the manifestation of many unpleasant reactions. It is only important to tell your doctor in a timely manner about what contraindications to the use of the medication in question you have or what side effects you have experienced. A qualified specialist will be able to properly adjust the course of treatment or provide the necessary symptomatic treatment in case of any side effects.
Take care of yourself and be he althy!
