Aciclovir 200mg, 400mg and 800mg – patient leaflet, side effects, dosage

1. What are Aciclovir Tablets and what are they used for

The name of your medicine is Aciclovir Tablets. This belongs to a group of medicines called antivirals. It works by killing or stopping the growth of viruses.

Aciclovir Tablets can be used to:

• treat chickenpox and shingles
• treat cold sores, genital herpes and other simplex infections
• to stop these problems returning after you have had them
• stop these problems in people whose immmune system works less well, which means their bodies are less able to fight infections.

2. What you need to know before you take Aciclovir Tablets

Do not take Aciclovir Tablets:

• if you are allergic to aciclovir, valaciclovir or any other ingredients in this medicine (listed in section 6). Do not take this medicine if any of the above apply to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Aciclovir Tablets. Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor or phamacist before taking aciclovir tablets if:

• you have kidney problems
• you are over 65 years of age

If you are not sure if any of the above apply to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using Aciclovir Tablets. It is important that you drink plenty of water while taking Aciclovir Tablets. Other medicines and Aciclovir Tablets

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines. This includes medicines obtained without a prescription, including herbal medicines. In particular tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

• probenecid – used for gout
• cimetidine – used for stomach ulcers
• mycophenolate mofetil – used to stop your body rejecting transplanted organs

Pregnancy, breast-feeding and fertility

If you are pregnant or breast-feeding or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.

Driving and using machines

Some side effects such as feeling drowsy or sleepy may impair your ability to

concentrate and react. Make sure you are not affected before you drive or operate machinery.

3. How to take Aciclovir Tablets

Always take this medicine as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

Taking this medicine

• Take this medicine by mouth
• Dissolve the tablet in a glass of water and stir before drinking
• If you prefer, the tablet can also be swallowed whole with a little water
• The score line is only to facilitate breaking for ease of swallowing and not to divide into equal doses
• Start to take Aciclovir Tablets as soon as possible. The dose that you should take will depend on what you have been given Aciclovir Tablets for. Your doctor will discuss this with you. Treatment of chickenpox and shingles
• The usual dose is 800mg taken five times a day
• You should space each dose by 4 hours
• Suggested times are: 7am, 11am, 3pm, 7pm and 11pm
• You should take Aciclovir Tablets for seven days. Treatment of cold sores and genital herpes
• The usual dose is one 200mg tablet taken five times a day
• You should space each dose by 4 hours
• Suggested times are 7am, 11am, 3pm, 7pm and 11pm
• You should take Aciclovir Tablets for five days, or longer if your doctor tells you.

Stopping these problems returning after you have had them

• The usual dose is one 200mg tablet taken four times a day
• You should try to space each dose by 6 hours
• You should take Aciclovir Tablets until your doctor tells you to stop

Stopping these problems in people whose immune systems work less well and whose bodies are less able to fight infection

• The usual dose is one 200mg tablet taken four times a day
• You should space each dose by 6 hours
• You should take Aciclovir Tablets until your doctor tells you to stop.

Your doctor may adjust the dose of Aciclovir Tablets if:

• it is for a child
• you are over 65 years of age
• you have kidney problems. If you have kidney problems, it is important to drink plenty of water while you are being treated with Aciclovir Tablets. Talk to your doctor before taking Aciclovir Tablets if any of the above apply to you.

If you take more Aciclovir Tablets than you should

Aciclovir is not usually harmful, unless you take too much over several days. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you take too much aciclovir. Take the medicine pack with you.

If you forget to take Aciclovir Tablets

• If you forget to take Aciclovir Tablets take your next dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is nearly time for the next dose, skip the missed dose.

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• Do not take a doauble dose to make up for a forgotten dose.

If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine ask your doctor or pharmacist.

4. Possible side effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects although not everybody gets them. The following side effects may happen with this medicine:

Allergic reactions (May affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)

If you have an allergic reaction, stop taking Aciclovir Tablets and see a doctor straight away. The signs mat include:

• rash, itching or hives on your skin swelling of your face, lips, tongue or or other parts of your body
• shortness of breath, wheezing, or trouble breathing
• collapse

Other side effects include:

Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)

• headache
• feeling dizzy
• feeling or being sick
• diarrhoea
• stomach pains
• rash
• skin reaction after exposure to light (photosensitivity)
• itching
• feeling tired
• unexplained fever (high temperature) and feeling faint, especially when standing up.

Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)

• itchy, hive-like rash
• hair loss.

Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)

• effects on some blood and urine tests
• increases in the enzymes that work in the liver. Very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people)
• reduced numbers of red blood cells (anaemia)
• reduced numbers of white blood cells (leukopenia)
• reduced numbers of blood platelets (cells that help blood to clot) (thrombocytopenia)
• feeling weak
• feeling agitated or confused
• shaking or tremors
• hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t there)
• fits
• feeling unusually sleepy or drowsy
• unsteadiness when walking and lack of co-ordination
• difficulty speaking
• inability to think or judge clearly
• unconsciousness (coma)
• paralysis of part or all of your body
• disturbances of behaviour, speech and eye movements
• stiff neck and sensitivity to light
• inflammation of the liver (hepatitis)
• yellowing of the skin and whites of your eyes (jaundice)
• kidney problems where you pass little or no urine
• pain in the lower back, the kidney area of your back or just above your hip (renal pain). Reporting of side effects

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or

search for MHRA Yellow Card in the

Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine

5. How to store Aciclovir Tablets

• Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children
• This medicine does not require any special storage conditions
• Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the label and carton. The expiry date refers to the last day of the month.
• Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your phamacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.

6. Contents of the pack and further information

What Aciclovir Tablets contain

The tablets come in three strengths, 200mg, 400mg and 800mg.

• The active ingredient is aciclovir.
• The other ingredients are sodium starch glycolate, microcrystalline cellulose, maize starch and magnesium stearate.

What Aciclovir Tablets look like and contents of the pack

Aciclovir 200mg Tablets are white, circular tablets marked ‘A’ and ‘200’ on one side and ‘W’ on the other side.

Aciclovir 400mg Tablets are white, oval tablets marked with ‘A’ and ‘400’ and a breakline on one side and ‘W’ on the other side.

Aciclovir 800mg Tablets are white, oval tablets marked with ‘A’ and ‘800’ and a breakline on one side and ‘W’ on the other side.

Aciclovir 200mg Tablets are available in blister packs of 25 and 100 tablets.

Aciclovir 400mg Tablets are available in blister packs of 25, 30, 56, 60, 70 and 100 tablets. Aciclovir 800mg Tablets are available in blister packs of 35 tablets.

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

Other formats:

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Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer

Marketing Authorisation Holder :

Wockhardt UK Ltd, Ash Road North, Wrexham, LL13 9UF, UK.

Manufacturer : CP Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Ash Road North, Wrexham, LL13 9UF, UK. This leaflet was last revised 03/2021.

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