Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with GoogleGet your health question answered instantly from our pool of 18000+ doctors from over 80 specialties
Had Shingles. On Acyclovir. What Is The Dosage And For How Long?
Adult patient weighs 157# w/ recent onset shingles . Located approx upper R shoulder (size of hand ) and side and chest. Placed on acyclovir 800mg 5 x/day x 5 days. Last dose Acyclovir on 9/2/12 w/ gross reboun S&S. Also on hydrocone for pain prn. How long can pt take and what is appropriate dose? Can he use cream as well?
Wed, 12 Sep 2012
hello
There is no cure for shingles, but treatment may shorten the length of illness and prevent complications.
Treatment options include:
Antiviral medicines to reduce the pain and duration of shingles.
Pain medicines, antidepressants, and topical creams to relieve long-term pain.
Initial treatment
As soon as you are diagnosed with shingles, start treatment with antiviral medicines. If you begin medicines within the first 3 days of seeing the shingles rash , you have a lower chance of having later problems, such as postherpetic neuralgia.
The most common treatments for shingles include:
Antiviral medicines, such as acyclovir, famciclovir, or valacyclovir, to reduce the pain and the duration of shingles.
Over-the-counter pain medicines, such as acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen, to help reduce pain during an attack of shingles.
Topical antibiotics, applied directly to the skin, to stop infection of the blisters.
this is the dose of acyclovir.
Acyclovir (Zovirax)
800 mg orally five times daily for 7 to 10 days 10 mg per kg IV every 8 hours for 7 to 10 days
Acyclovir, the prototype antiviral drug, is a DNA polymerase inhibitor. Acyclovir may be given orally or intravenously. Major drawbacks of orally administered acyclovir include its lower bioavailability compared with other agents and its dosing frequency (five times daily). Intravenously administered acyclovir is generally used only in patients who are severely immunocompromised or who are unable to take medications orally.
There is no cure for shingles, but treatment may shorten the length of illness and prevent complications.
Treatment options include:
Antiviral medicines to reduce the pain and duration of shingles.
Pain medicines, antidepressants, and topical creams to relieve long-term pain.
Initial treatment
As soon as you are diagnosed with shingles, start treatment with antiviral medicines. If you begin medicines within the first 3 days of seeing the shingles rash , you have a lower chance of having later problems, such as postherpetic neuralgia.
The most common treatments for shingles include:
Antiviral medicines, such as acyclovir, famciclovir, or valacyclovir, to reduce the pain and the duration of shingles.
Over-the-counter pain medicines, such as acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen, to help reduce pain during an attack of shingles.
Topical antibiotics, applied directly to the skin, to stop infection of the blisters.
this is the dose of acyclovir.
Acyclovir (Zovirax)
800 mg orally five times daily for 7 to 10 days 10 mg per kg IV every 8 hours for 7 to 10 days
Acyclovir, the prototype antiviral drug, is a DNA polymerase inhibitor. Acyclovir may be given orally or intravenously. Major drawbacks of orally administered acyclovir include its lower bioavailability compared with other agents and its dosing frequency (five times daily). Intravenously administered acyclovir is generally used only in patients who are severely immunocompromised or who are unable to take medications orally.
I find this answer helpful
Disclaimer: These answers are for your information only and not intended to replace your relationship with your treating physician.
This is a short, free answer.
For a more detailed, immediate answer, try our premium service
[Sample answer]
Related questions you may be interested in
Recent questions on Zovirax
Loading Online Doctors....