ZOVIRAX TABLETS (800mg)

SHINGLES STARTER PACK

What’s in your medicine

The tablets in the Zovirax Shingles Starter Pack are white, elongated

and have bevelled edges. They are marked ‘Zovirax 800’.

Each dispersible tablet contains 800mg of aciclovir.

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

This leaflet contains important information about your treatment.

If you have any doubts or questions, or you are not sure

about anything, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

REMEMBER:

This medicine has been prescribed for YOU. Never give it to others.

It may harm them even if their symptoms are the same.

Your doctor has given you a starter pack of 2 tablets, along with your

prescription so that you can begin to take your tablets at once. Please

obtain your Shingles Treatment 35 - tablet pack from your pharmacist as

soon as possible, so that there is no delay in continuing your treatment.

KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN

Things to remember about Zovirax Tablets (800 mg)

The name of your medicine is Zovirax Tablets (800mg) (containing aciclovir).

It belongs to a group of medicines called antivirals.

It is used to treat shingles (herpes zoster) and chickenpox (varicella zoster).

Before taking your medicine

Ask these questions before taking Zovirax Shingles Starter Pack.

Have you previously experienced an allergic reaction to aciclovir?
Do you suffer from kidney disease?
Are you pregnant, trying to become pregnant or breast-feeding?

If the answer is YES to any of these questions, and if you have not already discussed them with your doctor, tell your doctor or pharmacist before you take this medicine.

Taking your medicine

It is important to take your medicine at the right times. You must take it as directed by your doctor.

The usual dose is one tablet approximately every 4 hours.
Taking your tablets regularly will ensure the levels of medicine necessary to reduce and shorten your rash and discomfort.
Your Zovirax Starter Pack contains 1 blister strip containing 2 tablets. Take the first tablet as soon as possible, and the other tablet approximately four hours later. In the meantime try to obtain your 35 tablet Shingles Treatment Pack in order to continue treatment without delay
Swallow the tablet whole with some water, or the tablet can be dissolved in a quarter of a glass of water which should be stirred before drinking.
Take only 33 tablets from your prescription pack, as you have already taken the 2 starter pack tablets. Return the unused tablets to your pharmacist for disposal.

After taking your 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 can occur.
If these or any other unusual effects occur, or if you begin to feel more unwell while taking Zovirax, contact your doctor.
It is helpful to keep up your normal fluid intake and elderly patients should ensure that they drink plenty of fluids.

Storing your medicine

Keep your tablets in a cool, dark, safe place where children cannot reach them. Medicines can harm if not used properly.

The Product licence for Zovirax Tablets 800 mg 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 Tablets 800 mg

Zovirax is a Trade mark of The Wellcome Foundation Limited.