What Are the Common Side Effects of Acyclovir

Acyclovir tablets, injectable, and capsules 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. The oral or injectable forms can treat all these infections. Its 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 aged 12 years and older. Your health care specialist may 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 diarrhoea. If any of these side effects last for a long time, trouble you, or if you have any other concerns, 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 any serious side effects, whether in injectable, capsule, tablet, or oral suspension form. 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 can affect the kidneys, blood cells and other major parts of the body is rarely reported in patients using Acivir Cream. 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 notice 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 associated with the use of Acyclovir. Suppose a patient suffering from herpes or varicella zoster virus develops side effects that are not listed above. In that case, he/she must inform their healthcare specialist of those side effects associated with their antiviral drug.