ZOVIRAX TABLETS (800mg)

SHINGLES TREATMENT

What’s in your medicine

The tablets in the Zovirax (Shingles Treatment) are white, elongated and

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

Each dispersible tablet contains 800mg of acyclovir.

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.

This course of treatment lasts seven 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 has been prescribed for YOU. Never give it to others.

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

Return any unused tablets, or tablets which have passed their

‘use by’ date to your pharmacist for disposal.

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).

Before taking your medicine

Ask these questions before taking Zovirax (Shingles Treatment).

Have you previously experienced an allergic reaction to acyclovir?
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 5 times a day.
Taking your tablets regularly will ensure the levels of medicine necessary to reduce and shorten your rash and discomfort.
Your Zovirax (Shingles Treatment) contains 7 separate blister strips of tablets; one blister strip for each day of the week. Each blister strip contains five tablets.
Select a blister strip for the day. Either take your tablets at 7am, 11am, 3pm, 7pm and 11pm (as shown below), or note down corresponding four-hourly intervals to suit the times you get up and go to bed. By the end of the day, you should have taken five tablets.

If you do not have a full day ahead of you on Day 1 of treatment, immediately take the tablet which is nearest to the time of day, and then one every four hours until bedtime. You will then have tablets left at the end of Day 7. Take the rest of the tablets, as usual, until finished

Dissolve the tablet in a quarter of a glass of water and stir before drinking.

If required, the tablet can be swallowed whole with a little water.

In the event of an accidental overdose. contact your doctor immediately.

After taking your medicine

This medicine is normally well tolerated, but may occasionally cause 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 Zovirax (Shingles Treatment) in a cool, dark, safe place where children cannot reach it. 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.