Product	RRP	Price	Order
Aciclovir 200 mg 25 tabl.	€ 52,45	€ 47,75	Add to shopping cart
Zovirax (aciclovir) 200 mg 35 tabl.	€ 57,45	€ 51,75	Add to shopping cart
Aciclovir 400 mg 56 tabl.	€ 87,45	€ 78,75	Add to shopping cart

 

 

 

Zovirax tablets and suspension contain the active ingredient aciclovir, which is an antiviral medicine used to treat infections with herpes viruses. (NB. Aciclovir tablets and dispersible tablets are also available without a brand name, ie as the generic medicine.)

The herpes viruses include the viruses that cause cold sores and genital herpes (herpes simplex 1 and 2) and the virus that causes chickenpox and shingles (varicella zoster or herpes varicellae). Aciclovir works by stopping these herpes viruses from reproducing and infecting more cells in the body.

Aciclovir is converted to a more active form inside cells of the body that are infected with herpes viruses. The activated aciclovir then works by blocking the action of a viral enzyme called DNA polymerase.

The herpes viruses need the DNA polymerase enzyme to copy their genetic material from RNA to DNA. This process is necessary for the viruses to multiply and continue to survive. By blocking the action of DNA polymerase, aciclovir prevents the herpes viruses from multiplying. This controls the infection and helps the immune system to deal with it.

Aciclovir is taken by mouth to treat herpes infections that cause chickenpox and shingles. It is also taken by mouth to treat genital herpes and other herpes simplex infections of the skin and mucous membranes, and to prevent these infections coming back in people who suffer recurrent infections. Oral aciclovir is also valuable for preventing herpes simplex infections in people whose immune systems are supressed and cannot fight off infection, either due to disease, eg HIV and AIDS, or medical treatment, eg chemotherapy, steroids, bone marrow transplant.

Aciclovir is also available as creams specifically for treating genital herpes and cold sores, and as an eye ointment for treating herpes simplex infections of the eye. See the factsheets linked below for further information about these preparations.