Zovirax Tablets (Aciclovir) used

Zovirax Tablets (Aciclovir) are used to treat infections of the skin and mucous membranes caused by Herpes Simplex virus, including initial and recurrent genital herpes, cold sores and shingles (herpes zoster), to relieve painful symptoms and help heal blisters and sores caused by the infection. Zovirax Tablets (Aciclovir) are used for the suppression (prevention of recurrences) of recurrent Herpes Simplex infections in people with an active immune system and for prevention (prophylaxis) of Herpes Simplex infections in immunocompromised patients. Zovirax Tablets (Aciclovir) are also used to prevent infection with other viruses in the herpes group of viruses in people who are immunocompromised, such as Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection following immunosuppression for a bone marrow transplant. In people with advanced HIV infection and very low white cell counts (CD4 < 50/microL)Zovirax Tablets (Aciclovir) can be used, in conjunction with another antiviral drug to help with the management of severe AIDS.

Zovirax Tablets (Aciclovir) work

Zovirax Tablets (Aciclovir) contain acyclovir (also spelt acyclovir), an antiviral agent which is highly active against both types of Herpes Simplex virus, HSV-I, that causes cold sores and HSV-II that causes genital herpes and also against the closely related varicella zoster herpes virus that causes chicken pox and shingles. Acyclovir inhibits the action of a viral enzyme (DNA polymerase), blocking viral DNA synthesis without affecting normal cellular processes in your infected cells. This prevents the virus replicating and therefore stops the growth and spread of the virus, relieving symptoms, reducing pain, helping sores caused by the infection to heal faster and helping the body to fight off the infection. Zovirax Tablets (Aciclovir) cannot cure a herpes infection, because once you have been infected, through a mucus membrane such as the mouth, the virus can persist undetected by travelling down a nerve fibre and lying dormant or inactive in a nerve cell, to be reactivated, for example by stress, other illness, sunlight or if your immune system is compromised, causing new infections. Zovirax Tablets (Aciclovir) only work on virus that is rapidly growing, such as during a new infection cycle after reactivation, but once the virus is dormant and inactive in a nerve cell, acyclovir has no effect.