• Mucosal and cutaneous HSV-1:
    • Adult and children >12 years:
      • Initial episode: 400mg every 4 hours *7-10 days
      • Recurrent episodes: 200mg every 4 hours *5/7 OR 400mg TDS *7-10 days OR 800mg BD *5/7 OR 800mg TDS *2/7
    • 3 months-11years: 10-20mg/kg QID *7-10 days
  • HSV encephalitis:
    • IV 10mg/kg/dose TDS *14-21 days
  • Herpes Zoster (Shingles):
    • PO 800mg every 4 hours *7-10 days
    • Immunocompromised: IV 10mg/kg/dose TDS* 1/52
  • Chicken pox (Off-label):
    • Adult: 800mg QID *5/7
    • >6 years: 800mg QID *5/7
    • 2-5 years: 400mg QID *5/7
    • <2 years: 200mg QID *5/7
    • Immunocompromised: IV 10mg/kg/dose TDS* 1/52
  • Tablet:
    • 200mg
    • 400mg
    • 800mg
  • Suspension:
    • 200mg/5mL
  • Injection/IV:
    • 25mg/mL
  • Patients with dysphagia can disperse tablets in 50ml of water (minimum).
  • Maintain adequate hydration especially with high doses or infusions.

Synthetic purine nucleoside analogue.

Thymidine kinase encoded by HSV, VZV & EBV converts acyclovir into acyclovir monophosphate and further into diphosphate by cellular guanylate kinase and into triphosphate which interferes with HSV DNA polymerase and inhibits viral replication.

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Headache
  • Photosensitivity
  • Skin reactions
  • Abdominal pain
  • Anaemia
  • Diarrhoea
  • Dizziness
  • Fatigue
  • Fever
  • Leucopenia
  • Thrombocytopenia
  • Hypersensitivity
  • Probenecid (blocks its renal clearance)
  • Methotrexate
  • Cyclosporine (enhanced risk of nephrotoxicity)

                                   Drug Status

Availability Prescription or OTC by Pharmacist
Pregnancy Category B3; Contraindicated
Breastfeeding Contraindicated
Schedule Not controlled
BRAND STRENGTH FORMULATION PACK SIZE MANUFACTURER DISTRIBUTOR
Aciherpin 400mg Tablet 10’s Agio Pharma Agio Pharma
Acirax 200mg Tablet 30’s Biopharma Ltd Biopharma Ltd
Acirax DS 400mg/5mL Suspension 100mL Biopharma Ltd Biopharma Ltd
Acyclovir Denk 200 mg Tablet 25’s Denk Pharma Laborex Kenya
Alovir 400mg Tablet 10’s Hetero Labs Unisel Ltd
Aviral 200mg Tablet 20’s Stallion Labs Surgilinks Ltd
Aviral 400mg Capsule 20’s Stallion Labs Surgilinks Ltd
Azzir 200mg Tablet 30’s Metro Pharma Metro Pharma
Azzir 400mg Tablet 30’s Metro Pharma Metro Pharma
Cyclovax 400mg Tablet 10’s Remedica Ltd Twokay Chemicals
Cyclovir 200mg Tablet 30’s Cosmos Ltd Cosmos Ltd
Cyclovir 400mg Tablet 30’s Cosmos Ltd Cosmos Ltd
Davir 200mg Tablet 30’s Dawa Ltd Dawa Ltd
Herperax 200 mg Tablet 30’s Micro Labs Micro Labs
Herperax 800 mg Tablet 20’s Micro Labs Micro Labs
Lovir 400mg Tablet 25’s Sun Pharma Sun Pharma
Lovir 200mg Tablet 25’s Sun Pharma Sun Pharma
Provir 250mg Injection 1’s Shalina Labs Makupa Chemists
Simplovir 250mg Injection 250g Incepta Pharma Radiance Pharma
Univir 400mg Tablet 10’s Universal Corporation Universal Corporation
Univir 800mg Tablet 10’s Universal Corporation Universal Corporation
Univir 200mg Tablet 30’s Universal Corporation Universal Corporation
Virucid 200mg Tablet 30’s Delorbis Pharma Europa Healthcare
Virucid 400mg Tablet 30’s Delorbis Pharma Europa Healthcare
Virux 400mg Tablet 20’s Square Pharma Ace Pharma
Zovirax 250mg Injection 5’s GSK Ltd GSK Ltd
Zovirax 200mg/5mL Suspension 125mL GSK Ltd GSK Ltd
Zovirax 200mg Tablet 25’s GSK Ltd GSK Ltd
Zovirax 400mg Tablet 70’s GSK Ltd GSK Ltd