What this medicine is used for

(ARTG)

Aciclovir tablets are indicated for use in adult patients for:, the treatment of first episode (primary or non-primary) genital herpes and the management of recurrent episodes of genital herpes in certain patients;, the treatment of acute attacks of herpes zoster (shingles), when the duration of rash is less than 72 hours;, the management of patients with advanced symptomatic HIV disease (CD4+ counts < 150 x 106/L).,Genital Herpes,Initial Episodes,The duration of viral shedding is reduced very significantly; the duration of pain and time to healing are also reduced. The promptness of initiation of therapy and/or the patient's prior exposure to Herpes simplex virus may influence the degree of benefit from therapy.,Intravenous aciclovir should be considered in patients in whom prostration, central nervous system involvement or inability to take oral medication requires hospitalisation and initiation of more aggressive management.,Aciclovir does not prevent the establishment of latency in primary episodes.,Recurrent Episodes,a) Suppression,In patients with frequent recurrences, suppressive therapy prevents or reduces the frequency and/or severity of recurrences in a high proportion of patients. Abortive episodes (prodromal symptoms without vesicle formation) and occasional breakthrough episodes may, however, continue to occur during suppressive therapy.,Suppressive therapy is not considered appropriate for patients in whom attacks are mild, last for short periods and/or occur infrequently (for example, less frequently than once a month).,Aciclovir is effective only during the period of intake and has no residual beneficial effect. It does not eradicate the body viral pool. Following cessation of therapy the time to onset of recurrences, their frequency, severity and duration remain generally unaffected. Some patients may experience increased severity of the first episode following cessation of therapy.,The risk of inducing viral resistance and of potential long term adverse effects (see Section 4.6 Fertility, pregnancy and lactation, refer to effects on fertility, and see Section 5.3 Preclinical safety data, refer to Genotoxicity and Carcinogenicity) should be weighed carefully before initiating suppressive therapy.,Asymptomatic cases of genital herpes are known to shed the virus with a high frequency. However, at present only limited data are available on the extent and frequency of viral shedding in patients receiving suppressive therapy. Therefore, if therapy with aciclovir tablets is being used in the prenatal period (see Section 4.6 Fertility, pregnancy and lactation, Use in Pregnancy) it should not be assumed that viral shedding has ceased. Pregnancy should be managed according to considerations normally applicable to patients with genital herpes.,In view of the complex and variable natural history of genital herpes, suppressive therapy should be interrupted periodically to ascertain whether the disease has undergone spontaneous change in frequency or severity (see Section 4.2 Dose and method of administration).,b) Intermittent Treatment,For certain patients intermittent short-term treatment of recurrences is effective. Although the average patient would derive limited benefits from such treatment, a minority of patients who have experienced severe, prolonged recurrent episodes or recurrences complicated by eczema, burns, or immunosuppression may experience more appreciable benefits. In those patients, intermittent treatment may be more appropriate than suppressive therapy when recurrences are infrequent.,Herpes zoster,In controlled trials aciclovir was shown to reduce acute pain and rash progression in adult patients of all ages with herpes zoster, in whom the duration of rash was less than 72 hours. The same treatment appeared to be relatively less effective in younger adults, in whom herpes zoster is generally a milder disease.,In ophthalmic zoster, oral aciclovir has been shown to reduce the incidence of stromal keratitis and both the incidence and severity of anterior uveitis, but not other ocular complications or acute pain.,Note: In immune-competent patients with very severe herpes zoster, immune-compromised patients, or in patients with impaired absorption from the gut, consideration should be given to intravenous dosing.,Patients with advanced symptomatic HIV disease (CD4+ counts <150 x 106/L),Studies have shown that oral aciclovir reduced mortality in patients with advanced HIV disease. In addition, oral aciclovir provided effective prophylaxis for herpes virus disease. No significant effect was seen on the prophylaxis of CMV disease or EBV disease.

How to use this medicine

(ARTG)

This medicine contains one component only.

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Storage conditions

(ARTG)

• Store below 25 degrees Celsius
• Shelf lifetime is 2 Years.

Do I need a prescription ?

(ARTG)

These medicine packs are available from a pharmacist and requires a prescription. It is Schedule 4 : Prescription Only Medicine. open tool tip to find out more

• 35 tablets pack

Is this medicine subsidised ?

(PBS)

This medicine was verified as being available on the PBS (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme) on June, 1 2026. To learn more about this subsidy, visit the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) website.

Pregnant or planning a pregnancy ?

(AHT)

For the active ingredient aciclovir

You should seek advice from your doctor or pharmacist about taking this medicine. They can help you balance the risks and the benefits of this medicine during pregnancy.