Each film-coated tablet of Acyclo® 800 contains:

• Acyclovir                   800 mg.

Each film-coated tablet of Acyclo® 400 contains:

• Acyclovir                  400 mg.

Each film-coated tablet of Acyclo® 200 contains:

• Acyclovir                      200 mg.

Aciclovir can be used to

• treat chickenpox and shingles
• treat cold sores, genital herpes and other herpes simplex infections
• stop these problems returning after you have had them
• stop these problems in people whose immune system works less well, which means their bodies are less able to fight infections.

• Acyclo® is contraindicatied in patients with known hypersensitivity to acyclovir,  valaciclovir or any of the other ingredients.

¤ Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.This includes medicines obtained without a prescription, including herbal medicines.

¤ In particular tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of the following medicines

• probenecid, used to treat gout.
• cimetidine, used to treat stomach ulcers.
• mycophenolate mofetil, used to stop your body rejecting transplanted organs.

• If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.

¤ Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Serious side effects:

• If any of the following happen, stop taking Aciclovir  Tablets and tell your doctor immediately or go to the casualty department at your nearest hospital.

Allergic reactions (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):

• If you have an allergic reaction, stop taking Aciclovir  Tablets 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 trouble breathing collapse

Other side effects include:
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):

• headache, feeling dizzy, feeling or being sick, diarrhoea, stomach pains, rash, itching skin reaction after exposure to light (photosensitivity), feeling tired, unexplained fever (high temperature) and feeling faint, especially when standing up.

Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):

• itchy, hive-like rash, hair loss.

Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):

• effects on some blood and urine tests,  increases in the enzymes that work in the liver.

Very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people):

• reduced numbers of red blood cells (anaemia), reduced numbers of white blood cells (leukopenia), reduced numbers of blood platelets (cells that help blood to clot) (thrombocytopenia)feeling weak, feeling agitated or confused, shaking or tremors hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t there), fits, feeling unusually sleepy or drowsy, unsteadiness when walking and lack of coordination, difficulty speaking, inability to think or judge clearly, unconsciousness (coma), paralysis of part or all of your body, disturbances of behaviour, speech and eye movements, stiff neck and sensitivity to light, inflammation of the liver (hepatitis), yellowing of your skin and whites of your eyes (jaundice), kidney problems where you pass little or no urine pain in your lower back, the kidney area of your back or just above your hip (renal pain).
• Transient stinging or burning after application of Acyclo® cream may occur in some  patients; occasionally erythema, itching or drying of the skin.

Overdose:

• Acyclo® is not usually harmful, unless you take too much over several days. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you take too much Acyclo®. 

• Drink plenty of liquids such as water while taking this medicine.
• The dose that you should take will depend on what you have been given Acyclo® for.
• In patients whose immune system works less well, the doctor may decide to vary the dose given.

Adults:
Treatment of chickenpox and shingles:

• The usual dose is 800 mg or 400 mg or 200 mg taken five times a day.
• You should space each dose by 4 hours.
• You should take Acyclo® for seven days.

Treatment of cold sores and genital herpes:

• The usual dose is one 800 mg or 400 mg or 200 mg tablet taken five times a day.
• You should space each dose by 4 hours.
• You should take Acyclo® for five days, or longer if your doctor tells you to.
• Your doctor may decide to give the dose by intravenous infusion.

Stopping these problems returning after you have had them:

• The usual dose is one 800 mg or 400 mg or 200 mg tablet taken four times a day.
• You should try to space each dose by 6 hours.
• You should take Acyclo® until your doctor tells you to stop.

Preventing these problems in people whose immune systems work less well:

• The usual dose is one 800 mg or 400 mg or 200 mg tablet taken four times a day.
• You should try to space each dose by 6 hours.
• You should take Acyclo® until your doctor tells you to stop.
• Your doctor may decide to increase the dose or give a different form of this medicine by intravenous infusion.

Children:

• Your doctor may adjust the dose of Acyclo® if it is for a child.
• There is no data available to support the use of this medicine in stopping cold sores or genital herpes returning after having had them and treatment of shingles in children whose immune systemworks well.
• Other forms of this medicine (e.g. a suspension form) may be more suitable for children; ask your doctor or pharmacist

Treatment of cold sores and genital herpes:

• 2 years and over: 200 mg taken five times a day 
• • Under 2 years: 100 mg taken five times a day

Preventing these problems in children whose immune systems work less well:

• 2 years and over: 200 mg taken four times a day
• Under 2 years: 100 mg taken four times a day

Treatment of chicken pox:

• 6 years and over: 800 mg four times a day.
• 2-5 years: 400 mg four times a day.
• Under 2 years: 200 mg four times a day.

¤ You should try to space each dose by 5 hours.

¤ Your child should take Acyclo® for five days.

Your doctor may adjust the dose of Acyclo® if:

• you are over 65 years of age
• you have kidney problems.
• People over 65 years of age or with kidney problems: It is very important while you are taking Acyclo® that you drink water regularly during the day. This will help to reduce side effects that can affect the kidney or nervous system. Your doctor will closely monitor you for signs of these. Nervous system side effects might include feeling confused or agitated, or feeling unusually sleepy or drowsy.

¤ Talk to your doctor before taking Acyclo® if any of the above apply.

¤ Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before taking  Aciclovir Tablets:

• if you have kidney problems
• if you are over 65 years of age

If you are not sure if the above apply to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Aciclovir Tablets.

¤ It is important that you drink plenty of water while taking Aciclovir Tablets.

• Acyclo® 800 Tablets (Blister of 10 Tablets, Pack of two blisters)
• Acyclo® 400 Tablets (Blister of 10 Tablets, Pack of two blisters)
• Acyclo® 200 Tablets (Blister of 10 Tablets, Pack of two blisters)

• Acyclo® tablets: Store in a dry place below 25°C.