The medication will work effectively, but for this you must follow the instructions, do not exceed the dosages indicated by the doctor, and also take into account that any remedy has its contraindications and undesirable effects.
Material Content:
Composition and release forms
The drug is based on the substance of the same name, which exhibits antiviral activity. In addition to acyclovir, the composition also includes auxiliary ingredients, the complete list of which is determined by the form of release of the drug.
- Pills. This dragee is in the form of a flat cylinder with a risk for quick division into two parts. Intended for oral administration. The concentration of the active substance can be different - 0.2 or 0.4 g (200 and 400 mg, respectively). In addition to acyclovir, povidone, starch, magnesium stearate, water are present in the composition.
- Ointment. This form is used locally. The tool treats the affected area of the skin. For 100 g of ointment, 5 g of the active substance, as well as a number of auxiliary components - wax, petroleum jelly, paraffin oil, macrogol, propylene glycol and purified water.
On a note. Usually, doctors prescribe both forms at the same time. Pills are taken to quickly destroy the virus inside the body, and the ointment is used to eliminate the external symptoms of infection.
Pharmacological action, pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics
Acyclovir helps with viral diseases.The tool works quickly and purposefully, destroying pathogenic microorganisms that are the cause of infection.
In fact, the acyclovir compound itself is a synthetic substance. This is an analogue of the purine series nucleoside, which selectively affects the herpes viruses, but not in direct form, but in the form of one of the metabolic products.
Inside the body, acyclovir undergoes transformations. The compound is phosphorylated, at the initial stage, acyclovir monophosphate is formed, which then turns into triphosphate.
This form works at the intracellular level, preventing the flow of the process of reproduction in viruses. Due to the effects of acyclovir triphosphate, the process of genetic information is blocked during the construction of viral DNA. This happens due to inhibition of the enzyme, DNA transaminase.
The medicine not only destroys the virus, but also significantly improves the physical condition of the diseased.
Against the background of the patient:
- pain decreases or completely disappears;
- the risk of complications is reduced;
- the formation of crusts on damaged skin is accelerated;
- the formation of new sores is prevented.
The active component of the drug penetrates the bloodstream and partially binds to plasma proteins. The maximum concentration can be achieved within 1.5 - 2 hours after administration. The substance freely penetrates into all tissues and organs.
The half-life is short - 2 to 3 hours.
The medicine is excreted in different ways:
- unchanged through the kidneys with urine;
- in the form of metabolites through the kidneys;
- in the form of metabolites through the digestive tract.
The minimum amount of the active component is found even in the air exhaled by the patient, which indicates the distribution of the drug throughout all the cells of the body.
What helps Acyclovir Akhirin
Pills "Acyclovir Akrikhin" or the ointment of the same name is prescribed for fast and high-quality fight against viruses present in the human body.
The most sensitive to the drug are:
- Herpes simplex;
- Varicella zoster
- Epstein virus - Barr;
- cytomegalovirus.
Important. Against bacteria, this drug is ineffective, since it can not affect the DNA and nuclear membranes of microbes. It is used exclusively in the treatment and prevention of viral infections.
Instructions for use
All necessary recommendations are given in the annotation to the medicine. The application scheme directly depends on the chosen release form.
Pills
Dragees are taken orally. Dosage is determined by the initial condition of the patient.
- With standard herpes without complications, 0.2 g is usually prescribed five times a day. Treatment is carried out for 5 days.
- For the treatment of genital herpes, the dose is maintained, but the course is doubled.
- With shingles, patients are given 0.8 g 5 times a day for a week.
- With chickenpox, 0.4-0.8 g of medication is required 4 times a day. The exact dose is determined by the age of the patient.
The dose for the prevention of diseases of viral etiology should be reduced. Usually it is 0.2 g with an interval of 4 hours. This volume is suitable for both adults and children over three years old. You can take the drug for a long time, up to six months.
Ointment
To eliminate herpetic eruptions on the skin or lips, ointment “Acyclovir Akrikhin” is used. The tool is designed to accelerate the healing of existing ulcers and prevent the formation of new ones.
Using the tool is simple. It is enough to apply it regularly with clean hands or a sterile gauze cloth on the affected areas, as well as on the border areas of healthy skin. You need to do this every 4 hours.
Important. If after 7 - 10 days there is no positive dynamics, then you need to see a doctor. Perhaps the dose will be increased or another medicine with a more powerful antiviral effect will be prescribed.
During pregnancy and lactation
During the period of bearing a child, medicines should be especially carefully selected.Acyclovir and its effect on the fetus have not been studied in sufficient detail, so it is better to refuse its use by choosing alternative means for viral infections.
The active substance passes into breast milk, so the lactation is stopped for the period of therapy, and the baby is transferred to a suitable mixture. At the end of the course of therapy, natural feeding can be resumed.
Drug interaction
The tool in the form of an ointment is successfully combined with all other medicines, so there are no restrictions on its use.
When using tablets, it is worth considering several points:
- while taking "Probenecid" increases the half-life of the active component "Acyclovir" from the tissues;
- when used together with nephrotoxic drugs, the risk of developing pathologies of the kidneys and the entire urinary system increases;
- when using "Acyclovir" together with immunostimulants, it is possible to increase the effectiveness of both drugs.
Contraindications, side effects and overdose
The medicine has its own list of contraindications, which is reflected in the annotation to the remedy.
The list of conditions in which medication is prohibited is included:
- age up to 3 years (for tablets);
- pregnancy;
- breast-feeding;
- hypersensitivity to the components of the composition.
Care must be taken to take the pills and those patients who have previously been diagnosed with kidney pathologies, since it is this organ that is involved in removing the spent medicine from the body.
Against the background of treatment with the drug, side effects can develop, the most common among which are:
- anemia;
- thrombocytopenia;
- abdominal pain;
- vomiting
- stool disorders;
- fast fatiguability;
- headache;
- weakness;
- cramps
- attenuation of attention;
- hives;
- itching
- edema;
- fever;
- visual impairment.
Ointment rarely causes side effects, but with prolonged use, dry skin and peeling in the area of application are possible.
The risk of developing undesirable effects is higher if the recommended dose of the drug is systematically increased. When taking an excess of pills, negative consequences are possible, including serious conditions - convulsions, lethargic sleep, coma. It is important to notice pronounced side effects in a timely manner and seek medical help. Usually, doctors prescribe symptomatic treatment for an overdose.
Analogs
In the treatment of infections of viral origin, you can use various medications that have the ability to destroy pathogenic microorganisms inside the human body. If necessary, the doctor may prescribe analogues of Acyclovir Akrikhin, which will also be characterized by increased effectiveness.
- "Ribavirin." Pills that have maximum antiviral activity. They are used not only in the treatment of herpes simplex, but also in the treatment of more severe conditions - hepatitis, parainfluenza, and mumps.
- Valvir An effective pill-shaped drug that blocks the rapid proliferation of viruses at the genetic level. Taking the medication allows you to fight with different types of herpes, the flu virus.
- "Kagocel". This is an atypical counterpart. It has a different mechanism of action, but its use pursues the same goals. These pills inhibit the reproduction of the virus, as well as strengthen their own immune system. In fact, this is a complex action medicine.
- Zovirax. This is an ointment that can be used to treat herpetic eruptions. She works by analogy with Acyclovir. During treatment, it should be remembered that the effectiveness will be higher if you apply the product immediately when the first ulcers are detected.
Both Acyclovir Akrikhin and all its analogues effectively fight viruses that provoke a number of unpleasant symptoms in a person. Most often, this is an increase in temperature, runny nose, sore throat, fever. Often a characteristic rash appears on the body.It is important to immediately contact a therapist who will determine if there is a need for the use of antiviral agents, and will help you choose the right medication.
