ZOVIRAX DOUBLE STRENGTH SUSPENSION

ZOVIRAX (CHICKENPOX TREATMENT)

What’s in the medicine

This medicine is called Zovirax Double-Strength Suspension. It is off-white

with an orange smell and taste. Each 5ml contains 400mg of aciclovir.

Please read this carefully before you start to take this medicine.

This leaflet contains important information. If you have any

doubts or questions, or you are not sure about anything, ask your

doctor or pharmacist. This course of treatment lasts five full days

and must be taken according to a regular plan. Your doctor has

already given you the necessary instructions. Reading this leaflet

will remind you of them.

REMEMBER:

This medicine is for THIS patient only. Only a doctor can prescribe it.

Never give it to others. It may harm them even if their symptoms are the same.

Return any unused medicine, or any medicine which has passed its ‘use by’ date to

your pharmacist for disposal.

KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN

Things to remember about Zovirax Double Strength Suspension

This medicine is called Zovirax Double Strength Suspension (containing aciclovir).

It belongs to a group of medicines called antivirals.

It is used to treat chickenpox (varicella).

Before taking the medicine

Ask these questions about anyone who needs to take Zovirax (Chickenpox Treatment).

Have they previously experienced an allergic reaction to aciclovir?
Do they suffer from kidney disease?

If the answer is YES to either of these questions, tell your doctor or pharmacist before they take this medicine.

Taking the medicine

It is important that the first dose of medicine is taken as soon as possible. The medicine must be taken at the right times and as directed by your doctor.
If you have been given more than one bottle of medicine, use one bottle up completely before starting on the next one.

Children

The usual dose is as follows:

Age	Daily Dose	No. of days to be taken	Total amount of medicine required
Under 2 years	1 x 2.5 ml spoonful 4 times a day	5	50 ml (1 bottle)
2 - 5 years	1 x 5ml spoonful 4 times a day	5	100 ml (2 bottles)
6 years and over	2 x 5ml spoonfuls 4 times a day	5	200 ml (4 bottles)

Give medicine for a total of 5 days. Give one dose at breakfast-time, one at lunch-time, one at tea-time and one at bed-time.
If you do not have a full day ahead of you on day 1 of treatment, simply give one dose of medicine immediately and another dose every 4 hours until bed-time. Continue giving the medicine as directed and you will then have medicine left at the end of day 5. Give the rest of the medicine as usual, until the bottle is finished.
In the event of an accidental overdose, contact your doctor immediately.

After taking the medicine

This medicine is normally well tolerated, but occasionally causes side-effects in some people.

Stomach upsets and dizziness or similar effects may occur.
Very rarely, headache and fatigue or skin rashes not related to chickenpox can occur.
If these or any other unusual effects occur, or if the patient begins to feel more unwell while taking Zovirax, contact your doctor.
The child should be encouraged to drink plenty of fluids.

Storing the medicine

Keep the Chickenpox Treatment pack in a cool, safe place where children cannot reach it. Medicines can harm if not used properly.

The Product licence for Zovirax Double StrengthSuspension is held by The Wellcome Foundation Limited, London NW1 2BP.

This leaflet is produced in accordance with guidance issued by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry.

The information in it applies only to Zovirax (Chickenpox Treatment)

Zovirax is a Trade mark of The Wellcome Foundation Limited.