Aciclovir cream for herpes
This is about the use of aciclovir cream for the treatment of infections round the mouth (cold sores) caused by the varicella zoster virus or herpes simplex virus. Aciclovir is known as an antiviral medicine.
Name of drug
Aciclovir 5% cream
Common brands: Zovirax®, Zuvogen®
Why is it important for my child to use this medicine? Herpes simplex virus causes an infection around the mouth that is commonly known as a ‘cold sore’. Aciclovir slows the growth and spread of the virus so that your child’s body can fight off the infection.
What is aciclovir cream available as? 5% cream: 2 g, 10 g tubes
When should I use aciclovir cream? Aciclovir cream is usually applied five times a day. This is usually first thing in the morning, at about midday, late in the afternoon, early in the evening and at bedtime. Ideally, these times should be about 4 hours apart.
Apply the cream at about the same time(s) each day so that this becomes part of your child’s daily routine, which will help you to remember.
You must continue using the cream for 3 days after the cold sore has gone.
How much should I use? Your doctor will work out the amount of aciclovir cream (the dose) that is right for your child. This is usually a small amount spread directly onto the cold sore (see below).
It is important that you follow your doctor’s instructions about how much to give.
How should I use it? Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and hot water before applying the cream.
Squeeze a small (pea-size) amount of cream onto the tip of your finger.
Spread it in a thin layer over the cold sore until it has soaked into the skin. Do not rub the cream/ointment hard into the skin as you may irritate the cold sore.
Do not apply the cream to skin that is not affected.
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and hot water after applying the cream.
When should the medicine start working? The medicine should start working straight away and your child’s cold sore will start to get better within a few days. It works best if it is given soon after symptoms appear. It is important to carry on giving it for a few days after the symptoms have gone away, as your doctor has told you to. Do not stop early as the viruses may start to multiply again and the cold sore may return.
What if my child is sick (vomits)? You do not need to worry if your child is sick, as the medicine will still work.
What if I forget to give it? Just give the next dose as soon as you remember but make sure there is at least 2 hours between any two doses.
What if I give too much? You are unlikely to do harm if you give an extra dose of aciclovir cream.
If your child accidentally swallows aciclovir cream, it is unlikely to do harm. However, if you are worried, contact your doctor or NHS Direct (0845 4647 in England and Wales; 08454 24 24). Have the medicine or packaging with you if you telephone for advice.
Are there any possible side-effects? We use medicines to make our children better, but sometimes they have other effects that we don’t want (side-effects).
Your child is unlikely to get side-effects with aciclovir cream. Any side-effects that do occur are usually mild and will wear off after a few days. If you are worried contact your doctor.
Side-effects you must do something about
If your child is short of breath or is wheezing, or their face, lips or tongue start to swell, or they develop a rash, they may be allergic to aciclovir. Take your child to hospital or call an ambulance straight away.
Other side-effects you need to know about Your child may have a stinging or burning feeling where the cream has been applied.
Your child’s skin may become red, or may feel itchy or dry. Using a moisturising cream or anti-itch cream may help.
There may, sometimes, be other side-effects that are not listed above. If you notice anything unusual and are concerned, contact your doctor.
Can other medicines be given at the same time as aciclovir cream?
You can give your child medicines that contain paracetamol or ibuprofen, unless your doctor has told you not to.
Is there anything else I need to know about this medicine?
Keep the aciclovir cream away from your child’s eyes. If your child accidentally gets aciclovir cream in their eye, wash it out with warm water and contact your doctor if you are worried.
It is important that your child completes the course of aciclovir. This means that they must use the cream for the number of days that the doctor has told you to. Your child’s cold sore will probably go away in a few days but it takes a few more days for aciclovir to completely treat the infection. If you stop giving it too soon, the viruses will start to multiply again and the cold sore may come back.
Aciclovir does not kill all the herpes viruses and some will remain in your child’s body. If symptoms of a cold sore return at any time, starting with a tingling feeling in the skin around the lips, it is important that you get a new prescription of aciclovir cream from your doctor.
General advice about medicines
Try to give medicines at about the same times each day, to help you remember.
If you are not sure a medicine is working, contact your doctor but continue to give the medicine as usual in the meantime. Do not give extra doses as you may do harm.
Only give this medicine to your child. Never give it to anyone else, even if their condition appears to be the same, as this could do harm.
Make sure that the medicine you have at home has not reached the ‘best before’ or ‘use by’ date on the packaging. Give old medicines to your pharmacist to dispose of.
Where I should keep this medicine?
Keep the medicine in a cupboard, away from heat and direct sunlight. It does not need to be kept in the fridge.
Make sure that children cannot see or reach the medicine.
Keep the medicine in the container it came in.
Who to contact for more information
Your child’s doctor, pharmacist or nurse will be able to give you more information about aciclovir cream and about other medicines used to treat herpes simplex infection.
Common brands: Zovirax®, Zuvogen®
Why is it important for my child to use this medicine? Herpes simplex virus causes an infection around the mouth that is commonly known as a ‘cold sore’. Aciclovir slows the growth and spread of the virus so that your child’s body can fight off the infection.
What is aciclovir cream available as? 5% cream: 2 g, 10 g tubes
When should I use aciclovir cream? Aciclovir cream is usually applied five times a day. This is usually first thing in the morning, at about midday, late in the afternoon, early in the evening and at bedtime. Ideally, these times should be about 4 hours apart.
Apply the cream at about the same time(s) each day so that this becomes part of your child’s daily routine, which will help you to remember.
You must continue using the cream for 3 days after the cold sore has gone.
How much should I use? Your doctor will work out the amount of aciclovir cream (the dose) that is right for your child. This is usually a small amount spread directly onto the cold sore (see below).
It is important that you follow your doctor’s instructions about how much to give.
How should I use it? Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and hot water before applying the cream.
Squeeze a small (pea-size) amount of cream onto the tip of your finger.
Spread it in a thin layer over the cold sore until it has soaked into the skin. Do not rub the cream/ointment hard into the skin as you may irritate the cold sore.
Do not apply the cream to skin that is not affected.
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and hot water after applying the cream.
When should the medicine start working? The medicine should start working straight away and your child’s cold sore will start to get better within a few days. It works best if it is given soon after symptoms appear. It is important to carry on giving it for a few days after the symptoms have gone away, as your doctor has told you to. Do not stop early as the viruses may start to multiply again and the cold sore may return.
What if my child is sick (vomits)? You do not need to worry if your child is sick, as the medicine will still work.
What if I forget to give it? Just give the next dose as soon as you remember but make sure there is at least 2 hours between any two doses.
What if I give too much? You are unlikely to do harm if you give an extra dose of aciclovir cream.
If your child accidentally swallows aciclovir cream, it is unlikely to do harm. However, if you are worried, contact your doctor or NHS Direct (0845 4647 in England and Wales; 08454 24 24). Have the medicine or packaging with you if you telephone for advice.
Are there any possible side-effects? We use medicines to make our children better, but sometimes they have other effects that we don’t want (side-effects).
Your child is unlikely to get side-effects with aciclovir cream. Any side-effects that do occur are usually mild and will wear off after a few days. If you are worried contact your doctor.
Side-effects you must do something about
If your child is short of breath or is wheezing, or their face, lips or tongue start to swell, or they develop a rash, they may be allergic to aciclovir. Take your child to hospital or call an ambulance straight away.
Other side-effects you need to know about Your child may have a stinging or burning feeling where the cream has been applied.
Your child’s skin may become red, or may feel itchy or dry. Using a moisturising cream or anti-itch cream may help.
There may, sometimes, be other side-effects that are not listed above. If you notice anything unusual and are concerned, contact your doctor.
Can other medicines be given at the same time as aciclovir cream?
You can give your child medicines that contain paracetamol or ibuprofen, unless your doctor has told you not to.
Is there anything else I need to know about this medicine?
Keep the aciclovir cream away from your child’s eyes. If your child accidentally gets aciclovir cream in their eye, wash it out with warm water and contact your doctor if you are worried.
It is important that your child completes the course of aciclovir. This means that they must use the cream for the number of days that the doctor has told you to. Your child’s cold sore will probably go away in a few days but it takes a few more days for aciclovir to completely treat the infection. If you stop giving it too soon, the viruses will start to multiply again and the cold sore may come back.
Aciclovir does not kill all the herpes viruses and some will remain in your child’s body. If symptoms of a cold sore return at any time, starting with a tingling feeling in the skin around the lips, it is important that you get a new prescription of aciclovir cream from your doctor.
General advice about medicines
Try to give medicines at about the same times each day, to help you remember.
If you are not sure a medicine is working, contact your doctor but continue to give the medicine as usual in the meantime. Do not give extra doses as you may do harm.
Only give this medicine to your child. Never give it to anyone else, even if their condition appears to be the same, as this could do harm.
Make sure that the medicine you have at home has not reached the ‘best before’ or ‘use by’ date on the packaging. Give old medicines to your pharmacist to dispose of.
Where I should keep this medicine?
Keep the medicine in a cupboard, away from heat and direct sunlight. It does not need to be kept in the fridge.
Make sure that children cannot see or reach the medicine.
Keep the medicine in the container it came in.
Who to contact for more information
Your child’s doctor, pharmacist or nurse will be able to give you more information about aciclovir cream and about other medicines used to treat herpes simplex infection.
Oral:Herpes zoster (shingles): Acute treatment of herpes zoster
(shingles).Herpes simplex virus (HSV), genital: Treatment of
initial episodes and the management of recurrent episodes of genital herpes.Varicella
(chickenpox): Treatment of varicella (chickenpox).Injection:Herpes
simplex virus (HSV), mucocutaneous infection in immunocompromised patients: Treatment
of initial and recurrent mucosal and cutaneous herpes simplex (HSV-1 and HSV-2)
in immunocompromised patients.Herpes simplex virus (HSV), genital infection
(severe): Treatment of severe initial clinical episodes of genital
herpes in immunocompetent patients.Herpes simplex encephalitis: Treatment
of herpes simplex encephalitis.Herpes simplex virus (HSV), neonatal: Treatment
of neonatal herpes infections.Herpes zoster (shingles) in immunocompromised
patients: Treatment of herpes zoster (shingles) in immunocompromised
patients.
Use: Off-LabelBell palsy (new onset); Herpes simplex virus (HSV), genital infection in
HIV-infected patients (adolescents and adults); Herpes simplex virus (HSV),
mucocutaneous infection in HIV-infected patients (adolescents and adults);
Herpes simplex virus (HSV), orolabial (cold sores) infection in immunocompetent
patients; Herpes simplex virus (HSV), orolabial (cold sores) infection in
HIV-infected patients (adolescents and adults); Herpes zoster (shingles) in
HIV-infected patients (adolescents and adults); Infection (cytomegalovirus
[CMV]) prophylaxis in low-risk allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant
(HSCT); Infection (HSV and VZV reactivation) prophylaxis in neutropenia;
Varicella (chickenpox) in HIV-infected patients (adolescent and adults);
Varicella-zoster virus acute retinal necrosis (ARN) in HIV-infected patients
(adolescent and adults); Disseminated primary eczema herpeticum; Herpes simplex–associated
erythema multiforme; Herpes zoster encephalitis 
