What Are the Common Side Effects of Acyclovir

by Marie | Sep 26, 2017 | Anti-biotics | 0 comments

Acyclovir tablet, injectable, and capsule are prescription medications formulated for the treatment of infections caused by the herpes viruses and varicella zoster. Such infections include genital herpes, cold sores, and chicken pox. All these infections can be treated by the oral or injectable forms of the medicine. It topical form is useful in treating genital herpes and certain herpes simplex virus infections in immunocompromised patients. Acyclovir cream is a prescription medication for herpes labialis in children of 12 years of age and older. There are possibilities that your health care specialist will provide Acyclovir for another purpose not mentioned in this document.

Side effects of Acyclovir

The common side effects of Acyclovir include a headache, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. If any of these side effects stay for a long time or troubles you anyway or out, tell your healthcare provider promptly.

Your healthcare provider has prescribed this drug after determining that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. According to clinical trials, many people using this drug did not experience serious side effects with its any form whether it is injectable, capsule, tablet, or oral suspension. However, some may experience serious side effects that are less common in people using Acyclovir. Such side effects include:

Mental changes
Unsteady movement
Trembling
Difficulty speaking
Dizziness

Some may also develop signs of renal insufficiency such as unusual back pain, changes in the amount of urine, side pain etc.

A life-threatening reaction that has the ability to affect kidney, blood cells and other major parts of the body are rarely reported in patients using Acyclovir. These reactions are more likely to occur in a patient with a weak immune system or problems like HIV, kidney transplantation, and bone transplantation. Such patients are advised to seek immediate medical help. In addition, visit your nearest healthcare office immediately, if a patient develops any of these rare but serious side effects such as bleeding, high fever, yellowing of skin, dark urine, irregular heartbeat, extreme tiredness, vision changes, loss of consciousness, seizures, bloody urine, bruising, rapid heartbeat, or severe stomach pain.

Moreover, a very serious adverse allergic reaction is rare in patients using this antiviral medication. However, a user must take immediate medical attention if he/she notices any of the following symptoms of an allergic reaction:

Swelling of the face, throat, and tongue
Trouble breathing
Severe dizziness
Rash
Itching

This is not a complete list of side effects that are associated with the use of Acyclovir. If a patient suffering from herpes or varicella zoster virus develops side effects that are not listed above, he/she must inform their health care specialist of those side effects associated with your antiviral drug.