zovirax

What does my medication look like?

noreply@blogger.com (carnell) — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 17:09:00 +0000

What does my medication look like?

Acyclovir is available with a prescription under the brand name Zovirax. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.
Zovirax 200 mg - blue capsules
Zovirax 400 mg - white, shield-shaped tablets
Zovirax 800 mg - light-blue, oval tablets
Zovirax suspension 200 mg/5 mL - off-white, banana-flavored suspension
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Click here for more information on Zovirax from the manufacturer.

Where can I get more information?

noreply@blogger.com (carnell) — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 17:08:00 +0000

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist has more information about Zovirax written for health professionals that you may read.

What are the possible side effects of Zovirax?

noreply@blogger.com (carnell) — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 17:06:00 +0000

What are the possible side effects of Zovirax?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using Zovirax and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side
urinating less than usual or not at all;
easy bruising or bleeding;
unusual weakness.
Continue using Zovirax and talk with your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects:
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, stomach pain;
headache, feeling light-headed; or
swelling in your hands or feet.
Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.
What other drugs will affect Zovirax?
Before taking Zovirax, tell your doctor if you are also taking probenecid (Benemid). If you are using probenecid, you may not be able to use Zovirax, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.
There may be other drugs that can affect Zovirax. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

What should I avoid while taking Zovirax?

noreply@blogger.com (carnell) — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 17:04:00 +0000

What should I avoid while taking Zovirax?

Herpes infections are contagious and you can infect other people, even while you are being treated with Zovirax. Avoid letting infected areas come into contact with other people. Avoid touching an infected area and then touching your eyes. Wash your hands frequently to prevent passing the infection to others.
Zoviraxwill not prevent the spread of genital herpes. Avoid sexual intercourse or use a latex condom to prevent spreading the virus to others.

What happens if I overdose?

noreply@blogger.com (carnell) — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 17:03:00 +0000

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.
Symptoms of an Zovirax overdose may include seizure (convulsions), hallucinations, and urinating less than usual or not at all.

What happens if I miss a dose?

noreply@blogger.com (carnell) — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 17:02:00 +0000

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

How should I take Zovirax?

noreply@blogger.com (carnell) — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 16:59:00 +0000

How should I take Zovirax?

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
Treatment with Zovirax should be started as soon as possible after the first appearance of symptoms (such as tingling, burning, blisters).Take each dose with a full glass of water. Drink plenty of water while you are taking Zovirax to keep your kidneys working properly.

Zovirax can be taken with or without food. Taking Zovirax with food may decrease stomach upset.Shake the oral suspension (liquid) well just before you measure a dose. To be sure you get the correct dose, measure the liquid with a marked measuring spoon or medicine cup, not with a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one. Take this medication for the entire length of time prescribed by your doctor. Your symptoms may get better before the infection is completely treated. Zovirax will not treat a viral infection such as the common cold or flu.
Lesions caused by herpes viruses should be kept as clean and dry as possible. Wearing loose clothing may help to prevent irritation of the lesions.Store Zovirax at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Zovirax?

noreply@blogger.com (carnell) — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 16:56:00 +0000

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Zovirax?

Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to Zovirax or valacyclovir (Valtrex). Before taking Zovirax, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have kidney disease. You may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment. FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. Herpes virus can be passed from an infected mother to her baby during childbirth. If you have genital herpes, it is very important to prevent herpes lesions during your pregnancy so that you do not have a genital lesion when your baby is born. Zovirax passes into breast milk and may harm a nursing infant. Do not take this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

What is Zovirax?

noreply@blogger.com (carnell) — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 16:54:00 +0000

What is Zovirax?

Zovirax is an antiviral drug. It slows the growth and spread of the herpes virus so that the body can fight off the infection.

Zovirax will not cure herpes, but it can lessen the symptoms of the infection.
Zovirax is used to treat infections caused by herpes viruses. Illnesses caused by herpes viruses include genital herpes, cold sores, shingles, and chicken pox.

Zovirax may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about Zovirax?

noreply@blogger.com (carnell) — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 16:45:00 +0000

What is the most important information I should know about Zovirax?

Take this medication for the entire length of time prescribed by your doctor. Your symptoms may get better before the infection is completely treated.
Treatment with Zovirax should be started as soon as possible after the first appearance of symptoms (such as tingling, burning, blisters).
Herpes infections are contagious and you can infect other people, even while you are being treated with Zovirax. Avoid letting infected areas come into contact with other people. Avoid touching an infected area and then touching your eyes. Wash your hands frequently to prevent passing the infection to others.

Cold Sore Treatment – 10 Best Tips

noreply@blogger.com (carnell) — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 14:22:00 +0000

Cold Sore Treatment – 10 Best Tips

Cold Sore Treatment – 10 Best TipsMore than half of the American population carries the herpes simplex 1 virus. That means that millions of folks like you and me have suffered from the painful sores at least once in our lifetime. For some, it is a recurring experience, a nightmare at that. Billions of dollars have been spent thus far to research for a complete cold sore treatment but it has not been successful till date.Though cold sores tend to heal within 7 to 10 days without any cold sore treatment, the fact remains that the duration can seem like a lifetime to sufferers. The painful blisters that form on your skin, mostly on your lips could cause much discomfort and itch. It is common knowledge that cold sores are not curable, but there are various forms of cold sore treatment to minimize the discomfort and pain, and its infectious period.Here I would like to share 10 simple tips to treat cold sores:1. Apply acyclovir (take for instance over-the-counter Zovirax cold sore cream) on the cold sore immediately upon discovery of the symptoms. Do this for 5 times daily over the next 5 days. It would help to reduce the duration of the outbreak.2. Drape a cold compress such as ice wrapped with cloth over the cold sore. You will be surprised that this simple cold sore treatment offers much pain and itch relief.3. Take acetaminophen or ibuprofen.4. Avoid touching other parts of your body after contact with your cold sores. The herpes simplex virus is contagious and the last thing you want is to spread it.5. Keep your hands clean. Remember to wash them thoroughly after applying medication on the cold sores.6. Take herbal treatments such as antiseptics Tea Tree Oil and Sage,etc. Seek medical advice before attempting this cold sore treatment.7. Use painkillers like aspirin, paracetamol,etc.8. Use medication containing anesthetic agents such as benzocaine which alleviates the pain.9. Apply a tea bag over the cold sores. Tannic acid, an antiviral agent that can be found in tea is effective for cold sore treatment.10. Take sufficient rest, and keep your body hydrated. The simple truth remains that our body will naturally heal when well-rested.I have benefited much from these simple tips. I hope they would help you too in your cold sore treatment.

Skin Treatment Article by: Davion Wong Submitted: 2006-11-08

Shingles and Antibiotics by Nicky Pilkington

noreply@blogger.com (carnell) — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 14:09:00 +0000

Shingles and Antibiotics by Nicky Pilkington

Thanks to many of the advances in modern science and medicine, researchers have developed antibiotics which significantly help people suffering from a case of shingles. Although there are a variety of antibiotics that may be prescribed by a doctor to someone suffering from shingles, they all perform the same basic functions.
Many doctors prefer to prescribe an antibiotic to their patients with shingles. These antibiotics are designed to not only ease the pain and irritation of the shingles rash, but also to decrease the duration that the rash lasts. Antibiotics for shingles include
Zovirax, Valtrex and Famvir. Regardless of which antibiotic your doctor chooses to prescribe you, the key element is that you begin the antibiotic in the early stages of shingles. It has been proven in several different studies that these antibiotics are most effective when taken within three days of the initial symptoms of shingles. By beginning an antibiotic at this stage of shingles, you can ensure that it has the maximum effect on reducing irritation and duration.
Although some doctors choose to prescribe antibiotics to their patients with shingles, other doctors choose to only treat the symptoms of pain. In these cases, a doctor will recommend a common pain reliever such as Tylenol or Advil. The use of pain medications may be necessary for some patients even after the rash phase of shingles has ended. There are a percentage of shingles sufferers who experience postherpetic neuralgia, also known as PHN for short. PHN is basically a persistent pain that continues to occur even after the physical signs of shingles disappear. However, it is important to note that some doctors may prescribe an additional antibiotic to treat the symptoms of PHN.
In addition to pain medications and antibiotics, researchers are currently pursuing other forms of treatment. One of the more promising advances in the field of shingles treatment has been a vaccine to prevent occurrences of shingles. Although there has been a chickenpox vaccine for several years, researchers have not developed a completely effective shingles vaccine. However, several months ago, the FDA approved a shingles vaccine which is currently being used in high risk patients. Over the next few years, it is expected that this vaccine will be used in an increasing amount of the general population. Thanks to extensive research and development, people are being presented with a steadily increasing amount of treatment options for cases of shingles.
Please remember the advice and information in this article isn't meant nor intended to replace professional medical advice. If you think you may be suffering from shingles you should speak to a doctor or special care practitioner as soon as possible and try to limit your contact with those around you until you know whether or not you have shingles.

How to Get Rid of Cold Sores by Brenda H. Murphy

noreply@blogger.com (carnell) — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 14:06:00 +0000

How to Get Rid of Cold Sores by Brenda H. Murphy

Cold sores can be pesky little things. They always occur at the wrong time, like right before a date or an important job interview. Cold sores occur on the lips or in the area surrounding the mouth. Cold sores are also referred to as "fever blisters".
Cold sores or "fever blisters" are caused by the Herpes Simplex 1 virus. Type 1 refers to herpetic lesions of the upper body. Genital herpes do not fall into this category. Since cold sores are caused by a virus, they are treatable but not curable. Also, cold sores are highly contagious. Even slight contact with a lesion can transmit virus particles from one person to another. Treatments exist both over the counter and prescription to keep cold sores under control and get rid of those unsightly lip lesions.
1. Over the counter treatments. Cold sores can be treated with creams and ointments purchased from your local pharmacy. Abreva® is a cold sore treatment that speeds healing as well as any prescription medication. The treatment should be used during the first couple of days of the infection which is called the "tingle stage". During this stage of the infection, outward signs are not yet visible on the skin. An infected person may feel burning, tingling, or itching around the mouth where the cold sore is preparing to form. Abreva® works best at this stage to shorten what could be a two week ordeal from start to finish. Other products that can be used include Herpecin-L®, Zilactin®, and Anbesol Cold Sore Therapy®. Carmex®, Neosporin™, and Chapstick® are used to prevent cracking, itching, and redness during the later stages of the infection when the sore is drying out and scabbing over.
2. Prescription medications. If over the counter remedies are not resolving the cold sore problem to your satisfaction, then see a doctor about prescription treatments. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two medications for the treatment of cold sores: Denavir® cream 1% and Zovirax®cream 5%. These creams are best applied during the "tingle stage" of cold sore formation. The logic is that if the treatment is applied early enough before the herpes virus has time to replicate itself the duration of the outbreak will decrease. An important point to note is that even with treatment, a person experiencing a cold sore is still considered contagious until the sore completely disappears.
While cold sores are not a major health problem, they are a form of herpes simplex virus and should be treated appropriately. Steps should be taken to avoid re-infection and transmittance of the virus. Treatment does not cure, but does keep cold sore symptoms under control.

Novitra Maximum Strength Cold Sore Relief - How Does It Compare? by Terry Edwards

noreply@blogger.com (carnell) — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 13:59:00 +0000

Novitra Maximum Strength Cold Sore Relief - How Does It Compare? by Terry Edwards

So, you have another cold sore coming on? What do you do for cold sore relief? Well, if you're like most people you grab one of the over-the-counter cold sore products. One of these products being sold in pharmacies is Novitra Maximum Strength Cold Sore Relief. So how does it stand up to all the others?
Novitra Maximum Strength Cold Sore Relief is sold in a 0.25 oz tube that retails for approximately $13.98. Norvita is advertised as the only non-prescription cold sore medicine that has an active zinc formula that is said to shorten the effects of a cold sore.
According to clinical tests, Novitra Cold Sore Relief shortened the duration of healing by 76% over an untreated cold sore and 23% over a placebo.
The directions state to apply the cream 6-8 times per day or 2-3 hours a day until the cold sore symptoms are gone. As with all cold sore medicines, using them at the first sign of an outbreak will always provide the best results.
Does Novitra Cold Sore Relief Work?
The verdict on Novitra seems to be very positive. Compared to Abreva and Zovirax, Novitra has shown to work a little better in shortening the duration of cold sores.
As with any cold sore medicine, some people will experience positive results while others will not. It just comes down to each individual experience and finding the right medicine that works in your particular case.
So, when you feel a cold sore coming on, you may want to consider giving Novitra Maximum Strength Cold Sore Relief a try and see if it doesn't help provide you with some much needed relief.

Herpes Herpes 101 – An Introduction To The Herpes Simplex Virus

noreply@blogger.com (carnell) — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 13:53:00 +0000

Herpes 101 – An Introduction To The Herpes Simplex Virus

There is often great confusion when it comes to herpes. Just the word “herpes” often conjures up images of a particularly nasty sexually transmitted disease. But did you know that herpes actually stems from a virus known as the herpes simplex virus? And were you aware, that the chances are that you have already caught it at some stage during your life? In fact, statistics show that around 85% of the world’s population has been infected, and it is in fact the hardest virus to control known to man. However, this is often where the confusion stems from. You see, there are two strains of the virus, known as herpes simplex 1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex 2 (HSV-2).Herpes simplex 1 is the most common strain and is the cause of cold sores and fever blisters that appear around the mouth, lips and gums. Now everyone’s heard of a cold sore, but did you know that it is in fact oral herpes. Despite around 85% of the population being infected with HSV-1, not all people will develop cold sores or lesions around the mouth. This is because each person’s immune system is unique and many are able to suppress an outbreak. Instead, the virus lies dormant, although a carrier will still be able to pass the virus on under certain conditions.The second strand of the virus, herpes simplex 2, is the virus responsible for genital herpes. Genital herpes is one of the most prevalent STDs, and more worryingly, research shows that there has been 32% rise in the U.S alone between 1978 and 1990. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 out of 5 American teenagers and adults is infected with HSV-2. The symptoms of genital herpes usually occur within 2 weeks of contracting the virus. The area infected can include the genitals, rectum, buttocks, thighs, or any other part of the body where the virus could have entered through broken skin. Small red bumps appear first which develop into itchy blisters. Other common symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, difficulty urinating, vaginal discharge and swollen glands in the groin area.The symptoms usually last 1-2 weeks. Once infected, HSV remains in the nerve cells of your body for life, and outbreaks (recurrence) can occur several times a year. Despite there still being no cure, scientists are confident that a vaccination will be developed in the next 5 years. However, an effective treatment to reduce the pain and recurrence of symptoms is Acyclovir (Zovirax), which is an antiviral medication. This can be taken in an ointment form, liquid, orally, or even intravenously depending on the severity of the outbreak. Always consult your doctor before taking any new course of medication.An old cliché is that prevention is better than cure, and this certainly applies to herpes. Never engage in oral sex if your partner has either mouth herpes or genital herpes. Never share towels, cutlery or a toothbrush with an infected person. Always practice safe sex. Using a condom can significantly reduce the risk of transmission, although it is by no means 100% effective, since it may not cover all infected areas. Valtrex, recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration, may offer the best hope to sufferers at the present time. It can significantly reduce the chance of transmission, although the person infected must take it continuously.
By: Caroline Smith

How To Get Over Chickenpox More Easily?(Zovirax)

noreply@blogger.com (carnell) — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 13:42:00 +0000

How To Get Over Chickenpox More Easily?(Zovirax)

The symptoms of chickenpox can sometimes be quite disturbing and hard to bare. The most disturbing symptom is the itch that comes along with the skin rash.In order to make the itch disappear cool or lukewarm baths are recommended instead of scratching. During the first days of disease baths should be taken every three hours in order to stop the itching. Also, after bathing use some calamine lotions and occasionally an ice cube on the itchy zone. If itching does not stop and does not let you sleep then you should take a nonprescription antihistamine drug.Another symptom of chickenpox is fever. If your child has fever give him Acetaminophen in appropriate doses for his age. Try to avoid ibuprofen and aspirin because they might cause severe Strep infections and Reye's syndrome.Chickenpox also affects the mouth and throat and your child might refuse eating. You should give him to drink cold liquids and try to avoid salty foods and citrus fruits.The genital area could get affected by chickenpox too and could become sore. Use 2.5% Xylocaine over the painful areas every 4 hours and the pain will go away.An antiviral treatment can also be taken by adults to help reduce the symptoms of chickenpox. Acyclovir (Zovirax) is efficient only if taken within the first 24 hours after exposure. In children and teenagers who have problems with their immune system acyclovir is also recommended.It is important to cut the nails of the infected person because it can scratch so badly that will cause serious skin infections. Also if your baby has chickenpox, cover his hands with soft cotton socks. Also use antibacterial soap.It is important to keep your children isolated if they are infected with chickenpox. They are highly contagious to others even before the skin rash appears. Only after the blisters made a crust over the infection will not be contagious any more. It is prohibited to let your child go to school if he has chickenpox. Also ask your doctor to come visit him at home and avoid carrying him out to his office.It seems that 4% of the adults are exposed to chickenpox because they have not had this disease in childhood or do not have a good immune system.After the vaccine against varicella was discovered, the number of chickenpox cases started to decrease. This vaccine is applicable to children aged more than12 months, to adults and to pregnant women too. Nowadays most of the babies get such a vaccine at the age of 12 or 15 months. Also, a person who has never had chickenpox and got in close contact to an infected person could ask for this vaccine because it can prevent the disease from occurring.Do not avoid calling your doctor if your child feels worse, if fever lasts more than 4 days or if the blisters get infected.
By: Grojan Fabiola