Acyclovir Dosing (Cont.)

 
Genital Herpes Suppression
For preventing future outbreaks of genital herpes, the recommended dose is acyclovir 400 mg twice daily for up to one year. After one year, you should visit your healthcare provider to decide whether to continue acyclovir.
 

Acyclovir Dosing for Chickenpox

The dose of acyclovir when treating chickenpox in children age two and over is based on weight. The recommended dose is acyclovir 20 mg per kg (about 9 mg per pound) four times per day for five days. For children weighing more than 88 pounds and for adults, the recommended dose is acyclovir 800 mg four times a day for five days.
 

General Information on Acyclovir Dosing

Considerations for people taking acyclovir include the following:
 
  • The medication comes in the form of tablets, capsules, and a suspension (oral liquid). Acyclovir injection (used for more serious herpes infections), cream, and ointment are also available (see Zovirax Cream and Zovirax Ointment for more information).
     
  • Acyclovir can be taken with or without food. If the medication bothers your stomach, try taking it with food.
     
  • If you have kidney disease (such as kidney failure), your healthcare provider may need to prescribe a lower acyclovir dosage.
     
  • Be sure to shake the liquid form of acyclovir thoroughly before each dose.
     
  • For the medication to work properly, it must be taken as prescribed. Make sure to take acyclovir as recommended by your healthcare provider.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;