Patient leaflet - Zovirax cream 5%
1 What Zovirax is and what it is used for 2 What you need to know before you use
Zovirax
1 What Zovirax is and what it is used for
Zovirax Cream (called ‘Zovirax’ in this leaflet) contains a medicine called aciclovir. This belongs to a group of medicines called antivirals. It is used to treat cold sores and genital infections caused by the Herpes simplex virus. It works by killing or stopping the growth of viruses that cause cold sores or genital herpes.
2 What you need to know before you use Zovirax
Do not use Zovirax if:
- you are allergic (hypersensitive) to aciclovir, valaciclovir, propylene glycol or any of the other ingredients (listed in Section 6).
If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using Zovirax. Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using Zovirax if:
- you have a condition where your immune system works less well and your body is less able to fight infections (e.g. if you have HIV or AIDS or if you have had a bone marrow transplant).
If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using Zovirax. Zovirax Cream is not for use in the mouth, eyes or the vagina. Zovirax Cream may cause skin irritation.
If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using Zovirax.
Other medicines and Zovirax
Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines. This includes medicines obtained without prescription, including herbal medicines.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before using any medicine.
Zovirax Contains:
Cetostearyl alcohol; The excipient cetostearyl alcohol can cause
local skin reactions (e.g. contact
dermatitis)
Propylene glycol; this medicine contains 400 mg of propylene
glycol per gram of product.
Propylene glycol may cause skin
irritation. Do not use this
medicine in babies less than
4 weeks old with open wounds or large areas of broken or damaged skin (such as burns) without
talking to your doctor or pharmacist. Sodium laurilsulfate; this medicine contains 7.5 mg of sodium laurilsulfate per gram of product. Sodium laurilsulfate may cause local skin reactions (such as stinging or burning sensation) or increase skin reactions caused by other products when applied on the same area.
3 How to use Zovirax
Always use Zovirax exactly as your doctor has told you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure. Applying the cream
- Zovirax Cream is not for use in your mouth, eyes or the vagina.
You should not mix Zovirax with
anything before you use it, not even water.
- Always wash your hands before and after you use the cream.
Adults and children
- Apply a thin layer of cream to the affected area five times a day.
You should space each application of
Zovirax by four hours. Suggested times are: 7am, 11am, 3pm, 7pm and 11pm. aciclovir
If your cold sore has not healed after 4 days, or your genital herpes sore has
not healed after 5 days, you may use the cream for 5 more days.
If the affected area has still not healed
after this, stop using the cream and tell your doctor.
If you use more Zovirax than you should
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you use too much Zovirax. Zovirax Cream is for use on the skin, if you swallow any talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
If you forget to use Zovirax
If you forget to use Zovirax, use it as
soon as you remember. However, if it is nearly time for your next application, skip the missed application.
Do not use a double application to make
up for a forgotten application.
4 Possible side effects
Like all medicines, Zovirax can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
The following side effects may happen with this medicine: Allergic reactions (affects less than 1 in 10,000 people) If you have an allergic reaction, stop taking Zovirax and see a doctor straight away. The signs may include:
rash, itching or hives on your
skin
swelling of your face, lips, tongue
or other parts of your body
shortness of breath, wheezing or having
trouble breathing
unexplained fever and feeling faint,
especially when standing up.
Other side effects include:
Uncommon (affects less than 1 in 100 people)
a burning or stinging feeling after
applying the cream that goes away
- mild drying or flaking of your skin
- itching.
Rare (affects less than 1 in 1,000 people)
- redness of your skin
- skin rash.
If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet.
You can also report side effects directly via 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 Zovirax
- Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
- Store below 25°C.
- Do not store in a refrigerator.
- Do not use Zovirax if more than one month has passed since you first opened the tube.
- Do not use Zovirax after the expiry date which is stated on the carton and tube. The expiry date (Exp.) refers to the last day of that month.
- Do not throw away medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
6 Contents of the pack and other information
What Zovirax Cream contains
- The active substance is aciclovir.
- The cream contains 5% w/w aciclovir.
- The other ingredients are poloxamer 407, cetostearyl alcohol, sodium laurilsulfate, white soft paraffin, liquid paraffin, propylene glycol, purified water, glycerol monostearate and polyoxyethylene stearate, dimeticone 20.
What Zovirax looks like and contents of the pack
Each carton contains a 2 g or 10 g tube of Zovirax. The tube has a screw cap and contains a smooth, white to off-white cream. Marketing authorisation holder and manufacturer
Marketing authorisation holder
The Wellcome Foundation Ltd,
79 New Oxford Street, London, WC1A 1DG, United Kingdom
Manufacturer
Glaxo Operations UK Limited,
Harmire Road, Barnard Castle, Durham, DL12 8DT
Other formats:
To listen to or request a copy of this leaflet in Braille, large print or audio please call, free of charge:
0800 198 5000 (UK Only). Please be ready to give the following information:
Product name Zovirax Cream
Reference number 00003/0180 This is a service provided by the Royal National Institute of Blind People. Leaflet date: January 2025