- Mucocutaneous herpes simplex virus infection; herpes labialis:
- Apply topically to lips and around mouth 5 times per day *4-7 days
- Initiate as soon as possible after first signs and symptoms
- Apply topically to lips and around mouth 5 times per day *4-7 days
Cream: 5% w/w
Avoid contact with the eye and mucous membrane.
Synthetic acyclic purine nucleoside analogue with in vitro inhibitory activity against HSV-1 and HSV-2, varicella zoster, Epstein-Barr and cytomegalovirus.
Thymidine kinase encoded by HSV, VZV & EBV converts acyclovir into acyclovir monophosphate and further into diphosphate by cellular guanylate kinase and into triphosphate which interferes with HSV DNA polymerase and inhibits viral replication.
It helps shed the herpes virus quicker and reduces pain and duration.
- Stinging sensation
- Dry skin/lips
- Erythema
- Pruritis
- Hypersensitivity
- Recurrent infections
- None known
Drug Status
| Availability | Prescription or OTC by Pharmacist |
| Pregnancy | Unknown; use with caution |
| Breastfeeding | Unknown; use with caution |
| Schedule | Not controlled |
| BRAND NAME | STRENGTH | FORMULATION | PACK SIZE | MANUFACTURER | DISTRIBUTOR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acirax | 5% w/w | Cream | 10g | Biopharma Ltd | Biopharma Ltd |
| Acyclovir Denk | 5% w/w | Cream | 5g | Denk Pharma | Laborex Kenya |
| Adco-Acyclovir | 5% w/w | Cream | 2g | Adcock Ingram | Surgipharm Ltd |
| Cyclovax | 5% w/w | Cream | 10g | Remedica Ltd | Twokay Chemicals |
| Cyclovir | 5% w/w | Cream | 10g | Cosmos Ltd | Cosmos Ltd |
| Davir | 5% w/w | Cream | 10g | Dawa Ltd | Dawa Ltd |
| Herperax | 5%w/w | Cream | 5g | Micro Labs | Micro Labs |
| Univir | 5% w/w | Cream | 10g | Universal Corporation | Universal Corporation |
| Virux | 5%w/w | Cream | 5g, 10g | Square Pharma | Ace Pharma |
| Zovirax | 5% w/w | Ointment | 2g, 10g | GSK Ltd | GSK Ltd |