Acyclovir
General
- Type:
- Dosage Forms: IV, PO
- Common Trade Names: Zovirax
Adult Dosing
- HSV Encephalitis
- 10 mg/kg IV q8h x 10 d
- Genital/Mucocutaneous HSV
- Immunocompetent
- 1st episode, Mild-mod: 400 mg PO TID x 7-10 d
- 1st episode, Severe: 5-10 mg/kg IV q8h x 2-7 d
- Recurrence: 400 mg PO TID x 5 d
- Suppression: 400 mg PO BID
- Immunocompromised
- 1st episode: 400 mg PO TID x 5-10 d
- Recurrence: 400 mg PO TID x 5-10 d
- Suppression: 400-800 mg PO BID-TID
- Immunocompetent
- Varicella
- Immunocompetent
- 800 mg PO QID x 5-7 d
- Immunocompromised
- 10 mg/kg IV q8h x 7 d
- Immunocompetent
- Herpes Zoster
- Immunocompetent
- 800 mg PO 5x/day x 7 d
- Immunocompromised
- 10 mg/kg IV q8h x 7 d
- Immunocompetent
- Zoster Ophthalmicus
- 800 mg PO 5x/day x 7 d
- HSV prophylaxis in immunocompromised
- 400-800 mg PO BID-TID
- HSV keratitis
- 400 mg PO 5x/day
Pediatric Dosing
Special Populations
- Pregnancy Rating: B
- Lactation: Safe
- Renal Dosing
- Adult
- IV
- CrCl 25-50 give q12h
- CrCl 10-24 give q24h
- CrCl <10 decr. dose 50%, give q24h
- HD give usual dose as supplement
- PD no supplement
- PO
- CrCl <25: see package insert
- HD: give usual dose as supplement
- PD: no supplement
- IV
- Pediatric
- Adult
- Hepatic Dosing
- Not defined
Contraindications
- Allergy to class/drug
- Caution in renal impairment
- Caution in concurrent nephrotoxic agent use
- Caution in dehydration
- Caution in electrolyte abnl
- Caution in hypoxia
- Caution in neurologic dz
- Caution in hepatic impairment
- Caution in elderly
Adverse Reactions
Serious
- Hallucinations / psychosis
- Seizure
- Coma
- Encephalopathy
- Thrombocytopenia
- Leukopenia
- Anaphylaxis
- Angioedema
- Erythema Multiforme
- SJS / TEN / TTP
- Hepatitis
- Renal failure
Common
- nausea/vomiting/diarrhea
- headache
- dizziness
- rash
- arthralgia
- confusion / lethargy
- Elev. BUN/Cr
- Photosensitivity
Pharmacology
- Half-life: 2.5 - 3.3 hrs
- Metabolism: other
- Excretion: Urine
- Mechanism of Action: Inhibits DNA polymerase