Acyclovir for flu and colds

With the onset of cold and damp seasons, the number of visits to the doctor for respiratory infections, which both children and adults suffer from, increases. Statistics say that most colds are viral in nature and do not require antibiotic therapy. Considering the peculiarities of the vital activity of viruses, scientists have come to the conclusion that the body itself is able to cope with the infection if it is given a little help. Immunostimulants and antiviral drugs are just such effective assistants. Thus, using one of the most popular drugs of this group, "Acyclovir", for colds and flu, you can stop the spread of infection by affecting the virus itself and the host's immunity.

How relevant is treatment with Acyclovir?

Antiviral drugs are a relatively new invention of pharmacological science. The first drug of this kind was manufactured in the middle of the last century. The need for such drugs was dictated by the widespread occurrence of colds caused by viral infections.

If there were no doubts about how to fight bacteria after the invention of antibiotics, then antiviral therapy raised many questions. The fact is that bacteria are extracellular parasites, and the penetration of potent drugs into the blood and tissue fluid quickly decided the outcome of their further existence inside a person or on his skin. Viruses are intracellular parasites, which means access to them is limited.

Fighting intracellular infection is not that easy. After all, it is necessary to reduce the activity of the infection as much as possible without affecting the properties of the cell, its biochemical composition, without causing mutations. Ideally, we would like to get rid of the virus forever, but some types of viral infection are so resistant that it is only possible to reduce its activity by creating conditions that prevent the reproduction of virions. Such an infection, for example, is the herpes virus.

The incidence of herpes is extremely high, but many people simply do not suspect the presence of the virus in their body. This is facilitated by a strong immune system. But if it weakens, herpes comes to the surface, forming itchy lesions covered with a vesicular rash on the skin and mucous membranes. When the blisters open, a wound surface is formed, which is a breeding ground for bacterial infection, and therefore attracts it. Considering that bacteria are always present on our skin, the risk of complications is extremely high. And if a herpetic rash brings mainly discomfort, then a bacterial complication is much more dangerous.

Yes, but what does herpes have to do with colds and flu, because the causative agents of ARVI (respiratory viral infections) are usually completely different viruses. Thus, the cause of the symptoms of flu is considered to be a virus of the orthomyxovirus family, which has 3 varieties (2 of them A and B cause epidemics, C - only isolated cases of the disease).

Any serotype of the flu virus is transmitted by airborne droplets. The body's response is the production of antibodies corresponding to the hemagglutinin of a given serotype of infection. If the immune system is functioning stably, the body copes with the infection on its own in a short time. If this does not happen, the virus enters the bloodstream and begins to have a toxic effect on the body, increases vascular permeability, provokes pinpoint hemorrhages, and negatively affects the functioning of various body systems, including the immune system.

Further weakening of the body's defenses that restrain the activity of the herpes infection (which is present in 90% of adults) leads to the appearance of external symptoms of herpes and the addition of a bacterial infection. Quite often, a cold is not the fact of the disease itself, which arose under the influence of cold (it is this that initially weakens the immune system), but its manifestations in the form of herpes rashes on the lips, in the corners of the nose, inside it.

Viruses that provoke the development of respiratory infections force the immune system to throw all its forces into fighting them, it is clear that there is simply no energy left to contain the latent herpes infection. It is not surprising that already in the first days of the disease a person experiences severe weakness and loss of strength. It has also become common that during ARVI, herpetic rashes appear on the skin and mucous membranes of the face, which are called a cold. Genital herpes also increases its activity, but few people associate this with respiratory infections.

"Acyclovir" is a specialized medicine that is active against the herpes virus. Therefore, the question of whether "Acyclovir" can be used for colds can have only one answer - yes. Not only can it be used, but it is also necessary to prevent the virus from spreading to large areas of the body and causing a bacterial infection.

"Acyclovir" is an antiviral drug that can cause dysfunction of the herpes virus, so many understand its use for colds, but do not understand why doctors prescribe the drug for flu, because the disease is caused by a completely different family of viruses. After reading the instructions for the drug and not finding in the indications for use a mention of such diagnoses as ARVI or flu, many allow themselves to doubt the relevance of such a prescription.

Yes, there is a separate group of antiviral drugs that target the flu virus: interferons (analogues of proteins produced by the immune system to deactivate the virus) and drugs with antiviral and immunostimulating effects (inhibitors of enzymes involved in the process of copying viral DNA before cell division, as a result of which the reproduction process becomes impossible). The second group of drugs includes: Amantadine, Remantadine, Arbidol, Amizon, Relenza, Immustat, Tamiflu and others. And if interferons can be taken at any stage of the disease, then drugs of the second group are more suitable for the prevention or relief of the disease at an early stage (ideally during the incubation period).

"Acyclovir" is similar in its action to the drugs of the second group. But it has its own characteristics. As a preventive measure, it is able to stop the development of both the herpes virus and the flu virus. And in the post-incubation period (if you start taking the drug when the first symptoms of malaise appear), due to its immunostimulating effect, it will prevent the appearance of herpes symptoms and help to cope with the causative agent of the respiratory infection faster.

If herpes symptoms have already appeared, Acyclovir will slow down the spread of the infection, i.e. the increase in the number and size of herpes lesions, and the existing lesions will disappear due to the strengthening of the immune system (the body will deactivate the remaining active virions). [ 1 ]

Since the vast majority of adults and a decent percentage of children on the planet are already infected with the herpes virus, it can be said that Acyclovir will be useful in most cases of ARVI.

Indications Acyclovir

Treatment of colds with "Acyclovir" causes many questions among patients, mainly due to confusion in concepts. After all, we call a cold both a viral respiratory infection and its complication in the form of activation of the herpes virus. But OVRI is not caused by a herpes infection. And even if we are talking about viral (herpetic) tonsillitis, in fact, this is just the activation of herpes on the mucous membranes of the throat and tonsils, provoked by a weakening of the immune system, most likely under the influence of other viruses and cold. In this regard, the role of "Acyclovir" in the treatment of respiratory infections becomes unclear.

In the instructions for the drug, we do not find any mention of the usual respiratory infections, united by the abbreviation ARVI. In the section listing the indications for use of the drug, we can find:

• treatment of skin and mucous membrane infections caused by the herpes virus, including genital herpes, chickenpox and shingles,
• prevention of recurrence of herpes diseases.

And again, oddities. If the drug treats herpes, then what does it have to do with chickenpox, a highly contagious disease transmitted by airborne droplets?

Most people get chickenpox in childhood and do not know that the disease, like the blistering rash on the lips or genitals, is caused by the herpes virus. Yes, this virus is quite multifaceted, having several varieties (types).

Herpes viruses types 1 and 2 cause a disease called herpes simplex. Type 1 virus is transmitted orally, so its manifestations are most often visible in the area of the lips, less often near the nose, on its mucous membrane or on the mucous membrane of the pharynx. The second type of virus has a sexual transmission route, due to which genital herpes is spread.

The herpes virus type 3 (zoster) is the type of virus that is transmitted by airborne droplets and causes the disease we know as "chickenpox". Like any type of herpes infection, this type of virus is resistant. The symptoms of the disease go away, but the virus remains in the body.

For the time being, antibodies produced by the immune system keep the virus inactive, but age-related and hormonal changes, frequent infections, chronic diseases, stress, fatigue, weather conditions, HIV infection weaken the immune system and the virus makes itself known again, but in a slightly different way. A one-sided rash appears along the sensitive nerves, where the virus has been hiding for so long. An elderly disease with such symptoms is called shingles, although in essence it is the same chickenpox of herpetic etiology.

Herpes virus type 4 (one of the most common) is the culprit of infectious mononucleosis, a benign disease that affects the lymph nodes, liver, spleen, as well as some oncological diseases, such as Burkitt's lymphoma.

Type 5 virus (cytomegalovirus) is transmitted through various secretions of the body. Like the previous type, it contributes to the development of infectious mononucleosis, but can also cause hepatitis (inflammation of the liver) and the development of liver failure.

Scientists believe that there are at least 3 more types of the virus, but they have not been sufficiently studied. But this is not so important, because if we talk about the drug "Acyclovir", then its effect is most relevant in relation to the first 3 types of the virus, causing herpes on the lips, nose and throat, genital herpes, chickenpox and its variety shingles. That is, it has a wide application, although it is not equally effective for different types of the virus. Severe herpetic pathologies caused by the virus types 4 and 5 cannot be cured with only one antiviral drug, so it makes sense to use it as part of complex therapy to reduce the activity of the infection.

It becomes clear that "Acyclovir" can be prescribed for the treatment of genital herpes or chickenpox, as well as cold sores on the lips caused by influenza or acute respiratory viral infection. In this case, herpes serves as a kind of complication of influenza.

Often during colds, herpetic rashes also appear in the nose area. Many attribute them to irritation due to a runny nose. Salt in the nasal discharge and mechanical friction, of course, can irritate the skin, but the specificity of the rash with herpes indicates its viral nature. A specific rash inside the nose is sometimes called a cold in the nose, and "Acyclovir" often becomes the drug of choice when this symptom appears.

By prescribing the antiviral drug "Acyclovir" for colds and flu, the doctor pursues two goals at the same time: to prevent the development of a viral infection that caused the underlying disease (in particular, flu), and to prevent the development of complications in the form of activation of a dormant herpes infection.

The drug exhibits little activity against the flu virus, so it is usually prescribed to those patients who have previously been diagnosed with herpes rash (according to the anamnesis or the patient's words). But for people with reduced immunity, the drug for internal use can also be prescribed for preventive purposes, because herpes "clings" to such people with a reduced protective barrier first of all.

Release form

When the herpes virus is inactive in the body, it does not pose any danger and does not affect a person's well-being in any way. That is why we do not suspect such a neighborhood, and we consult a doctor only if the dormant virus suddenly wakes up and begins to actively multiply, destroying skin cells and mucous membranes. This is how we learn about the presence of the virus and its localization.

Knowing the localization of the virus, you can prescribe local treatment using external agents that will stop the reproduction of the virus and support local immunity, which will promote rapid regeneration of the affected tissues. With flu and acute respiratory viral infections, you never know where a herpes infection source may arise, which is so attractive to bacteria, so in the absence of external manifestations of herpes, it is more logical to prescribe systemic agents, i.e. drugs for internal use.

All these points were taken into account by the manufacturers of "Acyclovir", therefore the drug has several relevant forms of release: tablets of different dosages (200, 400 and 800 mg), ointment (2.5 and 5%), powder for the preparation of a solution used for intravenous drip administration in case of a serious patient condition. There are also drugs that include the active substance acyclovir. Thus, "Genferon" (a combination of acyclovir and interferon) is produced in the form of suppositories and can be used for the prevention and treatment of herpes symptoms both vaginally and rectally.

Acyclovir ointment is used for colds that have external manifestations in the form of a vesicular rash in the area of the lips, nose, eyes, and mucous membranes of the genitals. 3% ointment (eye) is intended for the treatment of herpetic lesions on the mucous membranes of the eyes. %% ointment and cream are used on the skin and in the genital area. This is an effective local treatment for herpes, which can be used both for primary infection and for recurrent infections.

Acyclovir tablets for colds can be prescribed both for preventive purposes and for the treatment of herpetic complications against the background of acute respiratory viral infections and flu. Before the appearance of a herpetic rash, tablets are the only way to prevent it. After the appearance of herpes symptoms, combination therapy is prescribed, i.e. systemic treatment is combined with local action. Local use of Acyclovir for colds and flu increases local immunity, i.e. the protective functions of the skin and its ability to recover, and systemic use stimulates general immunity, which increases the body's strength in the fight against any viral or bacterial infection that has entered the body.

Pharmacodynamics

When considering the effect of a drug on the human body in various diseases, pharmacists and doctors pay attention to two main points:

• How the drug affects pathogens and symptoms (pharmacodynamics). The effectiveness of the drug in treating specific diseases depends on this.
• How active substances are absorbed, metabolized, and eliminated in the body (pharmacokinetics). This affects both the effectiveness of the drug and its safety.

The pharmacodynamics, or mechanism of action, of Acyclovir is based on genetic research, since the active substance must deactivate the virus without affecting the cells in which it may be hiding.

The active substance of the drug (acyclovir) is capable of interacting with the enzyme thymidine kinase, produced by both healthy and infected cells. But its action is selective. Thymidine kinase of normal cells does not affect the metabolism of acyclovir, but the enzyme produced by herpes virions inside a human cell converts the active substance into acyclovir monophosphate, which is subsequently converted into di- and triphosphate by the action of cell enzymes in the process of chemical reactions.

The most dangerous for the virus is acyclovir triphosphate, which is capable of being integrated into the virus genome (viral DNA, hereditary material). Interacting with polymerase (an enzyme responsible for the synthesis of nucleic acid polymers that make up the RNA and DNA chain), the acyclovir derivative inhibits its activity. This leads to the impossibility of replication (doubling) of DNA, which is necessary for the reproduction (division) of virions. After all, the daughter virion must receive a copy of the parent cell's DNA, which encodes the properties of the virus that are passed on by inheritance.

Thus, we can conclude that when acyclovir enters the human body, it finds infected cells, changes its shape and properties, integrates into the DNA of the virus and prevents its reproduction.

As for the pharmacokinetics of the drug, without going into details that are of interest only to specialists, we can mention the following points that need to be taken into account when prescribing Acyclovir for colds and flu:

• the drug does not have a pronounced neuro- and ototoxic effect, does not affect the structure and properties of the body's cells,
• as a result of metabolic processes in the liver, a small amount of active metabolite is formed, providing a specific effect,
• when applied locally, it is not absorbed into the blood on intact skin,
• the ointment is absorbed more slowly than the cream, so it is better to use it on exposed parts of the body, the cream is absorbed quickly, leaving no traces, so it can be applied under clothing,
• most of the drug (about 85%) is excreted unchanged by the kidneys,
• in patients with severe kidney pathologies, the elimination of the drug is significantly slowed down, which increases its toxic effect (this must be taken into account when calculating an effective and at the same time safe dose of the drug).

Dosing and administration

The instructions for the antiviral drug "Acyclovir" indicate recommended dosages for herpes lesions, but there is no information on how to use the immunostimulant for colds and flu. The doctor, taking into account the course of the disease (the period of admission to the hospital, existing symptoms, possible complications) can follow the manufacturer's recommendations or prescribe a different treatment regimen. In this case, it is better to trust a specialist who, thanks to his knowledge, will be able to determine the need for the drug for each specific patient, taking into account the individual and age characteristics of his body.

It is worth noting right away that the drug in powder form, used for intravenous infusions, is almost never prescribed for flu, not to mention a mild cold. Usually, the prescriptions are for tablets (used for both prevention and treatment) and their combined use with external agents (ointment or cream). If there are no flu symptoms, but only a herpes rash is present, only local treatment is possible, although its effectiveness is lower compared to the combined one.

According to the instructions, Acyclovir tablets should be taken in dosages corresponding to the actual cause of the disease. For the treatment of infections caused by the herpes virus type 1 or 2, and for the prevention of relapse of the disease, the same single dose is used - 200 mg. But in the case of a primary infection, this dose should be taken at intervals of 4 hours (about 5 times a day). If we are talking about secondary manifestations of infection (relapses), provoked, for example, by the flu virus or another pathology that has weakened the immune system, the frequency of administration is reduced to 4 times a day (the interval between taking the tablets is about 6 hours).

In patients with significantly reduced immunity (immunodeficiency due to HIV, bone marrow transplant, etc.), the single dose can be increased to 400 mg without changing the frequency of taking the drug. BUT if there are severe kidney diseases that reduce the elimination of the drug from the body, increasing the dose is out of the question. Treatment is prescribed individually.

The course of preventive treatment with Acyclovir for colds and flu rarely exceeds 5 days.

Chickenpox caused by the herpes virus type 3 requires higher dosages of the drug. The effective single dose is 800 mg, and the frequency of administration remains the same as for the prevention of herpes types 1 and 2, i.e. 5 times a day at equal intervals.

The course of chickenpox in adults is usually severe, so a week-long course of treatment is required. The same course duration is expected when treating shingles.

For colds and flu, the doctor may prescribe Acyclovir in tablets in slightly different dosages. If herpes symptoms have appeared or the doctor knows about a previous herpes infection, the drug may be prescribed according to the following schemes:

• 4-5 times a day, 200 mg,
• twice a day, 400 mg,
• 200 mg three times a day.

If the drug is prescribed for preventive purposes, i.e. there are no herpes symptoms and there is no information about its presence in the body, doctors often limit themselves to low dosages: 2 or 3 times a day, 200 mg.

The drug in the form of an ointment or cream is applied to the herpes rash 5 times a day, trying to adhere to a four-hour interval, for 5 (sometimes more) days. It is prescribed only when external signs of the herpes virus appear. These drugs are not used for prevention.

"Acyclovir" for children for colds and flu

"Acyclovir" in tablets is intended for the treatment of patients over 2 years old, while a child of this age with a cold is offered the dose recommended for adults, i.e. 200 mg 4-5 times a day (unless the doctor has prescribed a different regimen). Children 1-2 years old can be given the medicine in a dosage half the recommended (100 mg 4-5 times a day), but if there are no herpes symptoms, it can be even less.

But is it necessary to give a small child a drug to prevent herpes if he does not have such symptoms? It is important to understand that the immune system in children is formed at least until 3 years. During this period, the body's defenses are not yet able to withstand the onslaught of infection, so any contact with it can be decisive in the development of herpes disease.

And if the body is further weakened by the flu virus, what can prevent the herpes virus from penetrating it and starting active activity? The drug "Acyclovir" is an antiherpetic agent and an immunostimulant in one. It is unlikely that one can come up with a better preventive measure than such a complex action, especially since the drug does not affect healthy cells and does not have a noticeable toxic effect.

If we are talking about the treatment of chickenpox, which requires high dosages, the prescription of the drug should be approached based on the patient's age. Children over 2 but under 6 years old are prescribed the drug in a halved dosage. A single dose of 400 mg is offered 4 times a day.

For children over 6 years of age, a safe dosage is considered to be 800 mg, which should also be given 4 times a day.

Since the course of chickenpox in children is milder than in adults, a 5-day course of treatment is sufficient.

Local manifestations of herpes during colds and flu in children are suggested to be treated by doctors using external means: ointments or creams. The dosage for children under 12 years old is calculated based on the fact that no more than 10 mg of the drug can be used for each square centimeter of the baby's body. For older children, the dosage can be increased fivefold, i.e. no more than 50 mg per 1 sq. cm.

Apply ointment or cream to the rash 4-5 times a day at 4-hour intervals if the child's kidney function is not impaired. Otherwise, the dosage and treatment regimen are determined individually. Usually, 5 days of local treatment are enough to achieve the desired effect, but if necessary, the course duration is increased.

Use Acyclovir during pregnancy

The necessity and safety of using antiviral drugs during pregnancy are questioned by many women. Firstly, during this period it is better to limit the intake of any medications, especially those that penetrate the blood. Secondly, there is information about the high toxicity of some antiviral drugs and multiple side effects of interferon-based drugs. [ 2 ]

"Acyclovir", prescribed for flu and colds as a preventive measure against relapse of herpes infection and to increase the body's defenses, does not belong to the group of interferons and does not have an obvious toxic effect. However, this relatively safe drug is also questioned by many mothers. After all, its effectiveness against the flu virus, which is dangerous for both the expectant mother and her unborn child, is extremely low, and the herpes virus is dangerous for the baby only upon contact with an active lesion, which is possible only during and after childbirth.

Despite the absence of toxic and teratogenic effects on the fetus, an experienced doctor is unlikely to prescribe Acyclovir for prophylactic purposes. But when a herpetic rash appears, prescribing the drug is entirely justified, at least the form for external use, after all, an infectious complication when bacteria get into the wound can have much more unpleasant consequences, such as blood poisoning.

The oral form of the drug during pregnancy is prescribed by doctors only if there is a serious risk to the mother's life, which exceeds that for the fetus. But sometimes, the prescription of the drug is justified by the fact that its use prevents the transmission of the disease from mother to child. Thus, a relapse of herpes on the eve of childbirth is fraught with an increased risk of infection of the child with the virus during passage through the birth canal. In this case, "Acyclovir" is the most optimal way out of the situation, because any viral infection poses a certain danger to the newborn.

When breastfeeding, it is important to remember that acyclovir penetrates into breast milk. However, its concentration in milk is significantly lower than in the blood, and it is unlikely to harm the child, especially considering that the drug does not affect healthy cells. However, do not exceed the dosage prescribed by your doctor. And if possible, it is better to temporarily switch to artificial feeding. [ 3 ]

Contraindications

The drug "Acyclovir" is often prescribed for colds and flu not only because of its effectiveness against the herpes virus, which is activated against the background of decreased immunity. The second reason for the popularity of the drug is the minimum of contraindications to its use.

Thus, the forms of the drug for external use are allowed to be used to treat children from birth, and the medicine in tablets (previously crushed and mixed with water or juice) is given even to one-year-old babies, selecting the optimal dosage. The drug is also not prohibited during pregnancy or lactation.

"Acyclovir" is used to treat both children and the elderly. Dose adjustments are required only in cases of severe kidney damage, as a result of which the drug remains in the body longer. Taking standard doses in such a situation can lead to an overdose.

The only serious contraindication to the use of Acyclovir in any form of release is individual intolerance to any of the components of the drug. Caution should be exercised in relation to patients with neurological disorders (given that the herpes virus, especially type 3, hides in nerve cells) and dehydration of the body. Taking Acyclovir implies sufficient water intake into the body, along with which the kidneys will also remove the spent drug. This is especially important if treatment is carried out with high doses of acyclovir.

Some manufacturers' tablets contain lactose. This should be taken into account by patients with impaired metabolism of this component, i.e. with hereditary galactose intolerance, lactase deficiency (an enzyme that breaks down lactose), as well as with glucose-galactose malabsorption syndrome.

Side effects Acyclovir

Regardless of the reason for prescribing the drug "Acyclovir", most patients report good tolerability. Complaints about deterioration of health are extremely rare and are not always associated with taking the drug.

What negative symptoms can there be from an antiviral drug? Usually, these are gastrointestinal disorders, typical for oral forms of Acyclovir. Abdominal pain, nausea, less often vomiting and diarrhea may occur. Such symptoms most often appear in people with serious diseases of the digestive system.

In some cases, hyperactivity of the liver is observed, as indicated by an increase in its enzymes in the blood. Less frequently, other changes in the blood composition are observed: an increase in the level of urea, creatinine, bilirubin, as well as a decrease in the concentration of leukocytes and erythrocytes (leukopenia and erythrocytopenia).

The reaction of the central nervous system to the drug may be as follows: headaches, weakness, dizziness, drowsiness. Such symptoms occur infrequently. Even less often, patients complain of hallucinations, convulsions, impaired innervation of the vocal apparatus (dysarthria), tremor, lack of coordination of movements (ataxia), shortness of breath not associated with cardiovascular diseases.

Pain in the kidney area may occur in patients with diseases of this organ (renal failure, kidney stones, etc.).

Skin reactions often occur when using ointments and creams, but with increased sensitivity to the components of any form of release, itching, small allergic rash (urticaria) may appear, and skin sensitivity to sunlight may increase. Allergic reactions are usually mild, but with drug intolerance, anaphylactic reactions are also possible, such as Quincke's edema.

Let us remind you once again that such symptoms occur in rare cases. Moreover, if Acyclovir is prescribed for colds and flu, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish the symptoms of the disease from the side effects of the drug. The same can be said about the malaise of patients with multiple diseases and disorders in the body.

Overdose

For most drugs with a low probability of side effects, the deterioration of the patient's well-being is associated with exceeding the recommended doses or long-term treatment with high doses of the drug. Patient inattention also leads to overdose.

Antiviral drugs similar to "Acyclovir" can be easily purchased at a pharmacy without a prescription or a doctor's prescription. The instructions for the drug indicate safe doses for all categories of patients. Particular attention is paid to children, the elderly and patients with kidney disease, especially in cases where this organ is actively involved in removing components of the drug from the body. If a patient with renal failure and urinary disorders takes standard doses of the drug, the drug will accumulate in the body. Having reached a critical dose, it will affect the patient's well-being,

As for Acyclovir, its critical dose is quite high. Even an accidental intake of 20 g of the drug per day did not lead to a noticeable deterioration in well-being (it is not worth checking!). But the fact that high doses of the drug did not have a toxic effect the first time does not mean that everything will be so smooth in the future. Repeated episodes of overdose provoked gastrointestinal disorders that lasted for several days.

Renal dysfunction in healthy people and neurological disorders usually occur with an overdose of the intravenous solution of the drug "Acyclovir", which is not usually used for colds and flu.

If overdose symptoms appear, you need to wash out your stomach (if the drug was taken orally) and seek medical help. Procedures for hydrating the body (drinking regimen, IVs), symptomatic treatment are indicated. To cleanse the blood from the active substance, hemodialysis is performed, which in this case is highly effective.

Interactions with other drugs

When prescribing medications, doctors very often ask what medications the patient is taking. This interest is not accidental, because the specialist is interested not only in the medications that the patient is taking in connection with the diagnosis that caused the patient to seek medical help, but also in medications prescribed or taken without a prescription to correct other disorders.

The fact is that many drugs have the property of interacting with other drugs and ethanol (alcohol), and the result of such a chemical reaction does not always give a positive effect. If the interaction can worsen the patient's condition or minimize the therapeutic effect, this is necessarily mentioned in the instructions for the drugs.

The antiviral drug "Acyclovir", prescribed for colds and flu, as well as in the case of herpes rash of other etiology, has not been found to have any clinically significant interactions. This suggests that it fits perfectly into various complex treatment regimens. When taking "Acyclovir", you do not need to stop taking other previously used drugs.

However, there are some points to consider. The antiviral drug "Acyclovir" is excreted by the kidneys through glomerular filtration. When taking other drugs with the same mechanism of elimination from the body, it is important to understand that this increases the load on the organ, as a result of which the concentration of acyclovir in the blood plasma may be slightly higher, and the half-life is longer.

For example, probenecid and cimetidine can significantly increase the half-life of acyclovir, which means that the frequency of taking the drug should be reduced. Although with normal kidney function and taking into account the low toxicity of acyclovir, dose adjustment in adults may not be necessary.

The same applies to interactions with immunosuppressants (suppress natural immunity). On the one hand, the action of the drugs seems antagonistic, but against the background of suppression of immunity, help in the fight against viruses is simply necessary. The immunostimulating effect of antiviral drugs is small, so the immunosuppressive effect remains quite sufficient. An increase in the concentration of acyclovir in the blood due to an increase in the half-life does not play a decisive role.

Storage conditions

Almost all medicines sold in pharmacies have a certain expiration date. Manufacturers usually mark two dates on the packaging of the drug: the date of manufacture and the expiration date of the drug. The latter date is considered mandatory, because after the expiration date, many drugs not only lose their effectiveness, but also become dangerous for humans, as they can cause severe intoxication.

The instructions for the drugs indicate the general shelf life of the drug, regardless of the date of manufacture. Much depends on the composition of a specific form of the drug, since different manufacturers may use different excipients (only the content of the active or active substance should be constant). This explains the difference in the shelf life of the same drug.

"Acyclovir" as an effective therapeutic and prophylactic agent for colds and flu has a decent history. Various pharmaceutical companies have been producing this popular antiviral drug for decades, but the technologies and components used (except for the active one, i.e. acyclovir itself) may be different, which is reflected in the composition and shelf life. Thus, "Acyclovir" in tablets from one manufacturer may have a shelf life of 2 years, while other pharmaceutical companies guarantee the preservation of the properties of their own drug for 3 years. Tablets should be stored at room temperature.

It is recommended to store the ointment for 2-3 years (see the instructions of the specific manufacturer), while the storage temperature should be below 15 degrees. However, it is also not recommended to freeze the ointment or cream.

Reviews of the drug

Reading reviews of the drug "Acyclovir" you are convinced once again that there are as many opinions as there are people. Moreover, among those who specifically use the drug against herpes infection and its relapses, there are those who smear warts, papillomas, moles with the ointment. Surprisingly, the drug "helps many people very well" (to fight papillomavirus infection, remove moles?).

Fortunately, there are not many such experimenters. At least the drug is not toxic and cannot cause harm. Most people use Acyclovir as prescribed, i.e. to combat and prevent herpes. However, not always as prescribed by a doctor.

For colds and flu, Acyclovir is not prescribed very often, especially if there are no visible symptoms or reasons to expect them to appear. Most often, the ointment is prescribed for colds on the lips or near the nose, which occur as a result of decreased immunity during viral respiratory infections. In this case, a cold is understood as the appearance of a vesicular rash, characteristic of herpes. The blisters tend to spontaneously open with the formation of a wet surface, and then a brown crust. The foci of infection gradually increase in size and can be infected with a bacterial infection.

But experience shows that long-term use of the ointment is not always advisable. Apparently, over time, the virus develops resistance to the active substance, and the effect of the drug gradually weakens. In this case, it is worth looking for another antiviral drug. But it is important to pay attention to the active substance, which should be different. For example, there is no point in changing "Acyclovir" to "Gerpevir" or "Zovirax" - drugs with the same active substance.

In some cases, the ointment is not enough to contain the infection. Removing its foci in one place cannot be expected not to appear in another. A stronger and more lasting effect can be achieved by taking pills and lubricating the foci of infection with ointment. Local treatment is unlikely to help those whose infection occupies a strong position and reminds of itself at the slightest decrease in immunity. With frequent relapses without oral administration of "Acyclovir", one cannot count on a good effect.

The antiviral drug "Acyclovir", according to its annotation, actively affects 5 types of the herpes virus. But some patients diagnosed with one of the five types, the drug does not help. This is explained by mutations of the virus, as a result of which strains resistant to long-used drugs appear. The same type of infection can include both sensitive and resistant strains. In this way, the virus tries to survive.

If the medicine does not help, do not experiment with doses and torture yourself. It is more logical to replace the drug with a medicine with a different active substance, after consulting with a doctor. The same should be done if an allergic reaction to Acyclovir occurs.

There are no references to the drug's side effects or toxicity in the reviews. However, expectant mothers have many worries and doubts. Many doubt even if the drug was prescribed by a doctor.

It must be said that the worries of pregnant women are mostly groundless. According to numerous studies (though not enough to declare the drug completely safe), the drug cannot harm either the expectant mother or her unborn child. The indication that "Acyclovir" should be used taking into account the risk ratio for the mother and fetus is a simple reinsurance, which, by the way, helps to reduce the number of episodes of unauthorized use of drugs. Such notes can be found in the annotations to many drugs.

If a doctor has prescribed Acyclovir for a cold or flu to a pregnant woman or nursing mother, you need to rely on his or her professionalism. Moreover, the mechanism of action of the drug does not imply cellular changes that can affect the course of pregnancy or fetal development. Viruses received from the mother have a much greater negative impact on the child, including those transmitted during childbirth or through contact with the baby's skin in the postnatal period.