Acyclovir is a fast-acting antiviral agent with a wide range of clinical effects. This drug was synthesized in the 70s of the last century and is still successfully used in medical practice. Anti-viral agent Acyclovir is highly safe, well tolerated and effective against different members of the human herpes viruses, including:

• HSV-1 – which is usually transmitted through close contact.
• HSV-2 – which is transmitted sexually or from mother to child.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) causes a recurrent infection that affects the lips, eyes, genitals, fingers, palms, mouth and skin. Using Acyclovir allows you to:

• Quickly suppress vital functions of viral cells, regardless of the infection localization
• Reduce the frequency of recurrence of a viral infection, regardless of the cause and severity of the infectious disease.

Acyclovir is a direct-acting antiviral agent. This means that the action of the medicine is:

• Targeted at specific steps within the life cycle viruses.
• Not toxic to host cells.

The antiviral effect of Acyclovir is well studied, including if the antibiotic is used in different ways. Today, there are several dosage forms of Acyclovir available for oral or external use. Patients who were diagnosed with a viral infection can buy several dosage forms of Acyclovir at the pharmacy, including:

• Cream of 5%
• Eye ointment of 3%
• Oral suspension of 200 mg/5 ml
• Capsules or tablets of 50 mg, 200 mg, 400 mg, 800 mg.

Cream 5% and eye ointment 3% should be used 5 times a day every 4 hours. The first and last daily dose are best used immediately before and after sleep. Acyclovir cream is applied to and around the affected areas of the skin for 4-5 days. This time is usually sufficient to get rid of unpleasant signs and symptoms of a viral disease. If the symptoms do not disappear, the treatment should be continued for another 4-5 days. The eye ointment Acyclovir (approximately 1cm ribbon) should be applied to the inner part of the eyelid. The treatment duration varies depending on the severity of the disease and the responsiveness of the patient. Ointment should be used at least 3 days after the symptoms disappear. Acyclovir tablets, capsules and oral suspension are intended for inner use, possess the same antiviral effect and therefore can be used interchangeably. Oral suspension is usually prescribed given to patients, who find it difficult to swallow pills, for example, to children. Depending on the type and severity of infections, different dosing schedules may be recommended. Typically, patients should adhere to the following recommendations during the antiviral therapy:

• A dose of 200 mg to 800 mg should be taken at a time.
• 2 to 5 doses should be taken during the day.
• Regular intervals should pass between the doses.
• The daily dose for children is prescribed depending on the age and body weight.

Treatment should last for at least 5-7 days. If healing has not occurred, the treatment can continue for another 5-7 days. Prolonged use of Acyclovir, especially in high doses, increases the risks of adverse reactions. Acyclovir can cause side effects, though not in every patient. The intensity and location of adverse reactions depends on the dose and method of the antibiotic use. The following adverse reactions are possible in patients, who use cream or eye ointment:

• Itching
• Redness
• Irritations
• Burning

If you are using Acyclovir oral suspension or pills, possible side effects include:

• Dyspnea
• Drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Abdominal discomfort

Use of any dosage forms of Acyclovir may cause rare, yet severe allergic reactions, for example, a rash with severe itching. If they occur, the patient should stop taking the antiviral agent and inform his doctor or pharmacist about it. If mild or moderate side effects manifest, patient should consult a physician, and not stop the antiviral therapy. Side effects usually attenuate within a few hours or days after the onset. If adverse reactions cause discomfort and/or do not subside, patients may be advised to reduce the daily dose. It can also help to maintain the daily dose as is and to increase the daily dosage frequency of Acyclovir (no more than 5 times). Before a patient begins the antiviral therapy, he should inform his doctor about any medications used, especially if Acyclovir is prescribed for oral administration. Other medicines may influence the effects of Acyclovir. Combined use of the drug increases the risks of adverse reactions. Despite the risks of side effects, Acyclovir is considered one of the safest and most effective direct-acting antiviral agents. Today, Acyclovir can be found on the shelves of pharmacies of any country in the world, at very different prices. Lots of pharmaceutical companies manufacture and supply Acyclovir. Only in the US, there are more than 30 of them, including:

• Actavis
• Aurobindo
• Amneal
• Mylan
• Cadila
• GlaxoSmithKline

Patients can buy Acyclovir under different trade names, such as:

• Zovirax
• Sitavig
• Xerese

It is possible that not all of the listed medicines are available in every country in the world. This antiviral agent is usually sold under the international non-proprietary name “Acyclovir”. Typically, the price of antiviral medicines that are available under the name “Acyclovir” is lower, than the price of branded medicines for the treatment of viral infections. If you want to buy antibiotics at the lowest price, you can find cheap Acyclovir at an online pharmacy. Almost all online pharmacies sell Acyclovir at lower prices., compared to local pharmacies. In addition, online pharmacies provide free pharmacist’s advice and guarantee the anonymity of the order. Understandable service allows you to order Acyclovir online even if antiviral medicines are purchased for the first time. Before you buy Acyclovir online, you should think about the amount of medicine you need. Purchase of several packs of tablets or tubes of Acyclovir cream will allow you to get a stock of highly effective antibiotic without additional costs for its delivery.