This article describes acyclovir oral tablet’s dosages, its strengths, and details on how to take it. You’ll also find information on cost savings and coupon options for acyclovir.
Acyclovir oral tablet is a generic medication. It doesn’t come in a brand-name version. Acyclovir also comes in oral capsule, oral suspension, topical cream, topical ointment, and injectable forms, but this article does not describe these forms. To learn more about these forms, talk with your doctor.
If you want to know more about acyclovir oral tablet, see this overview article. It covers details about the drug’s uses, side effects, and more.
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Form and strengths of acyclovir
Acyclovir oral tablet is swallowed. It comes in the following strengths:
- 400 milligrams (mg)
- 800 mg
Dosage of acyclovir
This article describes the recommended dosages* for acyclovir oral tablet.
If your doctor prescribes this medication, they’ll determine the dosage that’s best for you. Do not change your dosage of acyclovir oral tablet without your doctor’s recommendation.
* The drugmaker provides these recommended dosages. If your doctor prescribes acyclovir, be sure to take the dosage they prescribe for you.
Usual recommended dosages of acyclovir in adults
Acyclovir is approved to treat genital herpes, chickenpox, and shingles in adults.
The table below describes commonly prescribed dosages. That said, always take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the dosage that best meets your needs. Doses are listed in milligrams (mg).
| Condition | Dose | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| genital herpes, to prevent flare-ups | 400 mg | 2 times per day for up to 12 months |
| genital herpes, first episode | 200 mg | 5 times per day for 10 days |
| genital herpes, repeat episodes (active outbreaks) | 200 mg | 5 times per day for 5 days |
| chickenpox | 800 mg | 4 times per day for 5 days |
| shingles (also called herpes zoster) | 800 mg | 5 times per day for 7 to 10 days |
Dosages of acyclovir in children
Acyclovir is approved to treat chickenpox in children ages 2 to 17 years. Doctors base children’s dosages on body weight. (For reference, 1 kilogram [kg] equals about 2.2 pounds [lb].)
| Body weight in kg | Approximate body weight in lb | Dose | Frequency |
| 40 kg or less | 88 lb or less | 20 mg per kg (mg/kg) | 4 times per day for 5 days |
| more than 40 kg | more than 88 lb | 800 mg | 4 times per day for 5 days |
For example, assume a doctor prescribes acyclovir oral tablet for a child who weighs 20 kg (about 44 lb). The dosage would be 400 mg, to be taken four times per day for 5 days.
Dosage adjustments for acyclovir
Your doctor will prescribe a dosage of acyclovir oral tablet based on several factors, including:
- the specific condition being treated and how severe it is
- age
- body weight for children weighing 40 kg or less
- other health conditions
Missed dose of acyclovir
Talk with your doctor or pharmacist right away if you realize you forgot to take a dose of acyclovir oral tablet. They may advise you to take the missed dose. Or they may advise you to skip it and take your next dose as scheduled.
For tips on how to plan your doses of acyclovir oral tablet and avoid missing a dose, read this article. You could also try:
- downloading a reminder app on your phone
- setting an alarm
- putting a note where you’ll see it, such as on your calendar, bathroom mirror, or bedside table
Frequently asked questions
Below are answers to some commonly asked questions about acyclovir oral tablet and its dosage.
Is there a 400-mg or 800-mg dose of acyclovir for cold sores?
Although acyclovir oral tablet isn’t approved to treat cold sores, this is a common off-label use. With off-label use, doctors prescribe a drug for a purpose other than its approved uses.
The same virus that causes genital herpes also causes cold sores (oral herpes). Doctors base the dose of acyclovir they prescribe to treat cold sores on expert opinion and medical research.
You can talk with your doctor about treatments that may help lessen your symptoms of cold sores.
Is there a loading dose of acyclovir for cold sores?
There is no approved acyclovir loading dose for cold sores. A loading dose is a higher dose of a drug at the beginning of treatment so that the drug can start working more quickly.
The drugmaker of acyclovir oral tablet does not provide dosage information for treating cold sores because the drug is not approved for this use. However, this is a common off-label use of acyclovir, and doctors base the dosages they prescribe for treating cold sores on expert opinion and medical research.
For treating cold sores, talk with your doctor about options that they recommend for your symptoms.
What is the acyclovir dosage for an active cold sore outbreak? What about for an active genital herpes outbreak?
Acyclovir oral tablet isn’t approved to treat an outbreak of cold sores, so the drugmaker doesn’t have dosage recommendations for this use. However, treating cold sores is a common off-label use of acyclovir. For more information, see the “Is there a 400-mg or 800-mg dose of acyclovir for cold sores?” section above.
Acyclovir is approved to treat an active outbreak of genital herpes (an active infection). This type of treatment is sometimes called intermittent therapy. For this use, doctors prescribe 200 milligrams (mg) five times per day for 5 days.
Your doctor will typically prescribe this treatment to take at the first sign of prodrome. This is a group of symptoms that you notice just before an outbreak. The symptoms at the site of the infection can include:
- burning
- itching
- tingling
Talk with your doctor about when to take acyclovir for an active infection.
Is acyclovir used long term?
Doctors prescribe acyclovir oral tablet as a short-term or long-term treatment. Your duration of treatment may vary, depending on the condition you’re taking the drug to treat. You might take it for as little as 5 days or as long as 12 months.
Your doctor can tell you whether you’ll likely take acyclovir short term or long term.
How acyclovir is taken
You’ll take acyclovir oral tablets two to five times per day.
Your doctor may advise that you take this medication around the same times each day. This can help maintain a consistent amount of the drug in your body. And doing so can help the drug work more effectively.
You can take the tablet with or without food, but you should not crush it.
If it’s hard for you to swallow tablets, view this article. It provides suggestions on how to swallow medications that come in pill form.
Also, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you’re having difficulty taking your medication. They can offer recommendations about taking it.
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