Acyclovir Dosing

When treating chickenpox in adults and children over 88 pounds, acyclovir dosing guidelines call for 800 mg, taken four times a day for five days. However, these guidelines are also dependent on factors such as the person's age and the condition that the drug is being used to treat. In order to ensure a successful treatment process, it's important to take your acyclovir dose according to your healthcare provider's recommendations.

 

Acyclovir Dosing: An Introduction

The dose of acyclovir (Zovirax®) that your healthcare provider recommends will vary, depending on a number of factors, including:
 
  • Your age and weight
  • The medical condition being treated
  • Other medications you may be taking
  • Other medical conditions you may have.
     
As is always the case, do not adjust your acyclovir dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
 

Acyclovir Dosing for Shingles

The recommended starting dose of acyclovir for the treatment of shingles is acyclovir 800 mg five times a day (about every four hours) for 7 to 10 days.
 

Acyclovir Dosing for Genital Herpes

The dose of acyclovir prescribed for genital herpes depends on whether it is your first infection or whether you take the medication to prevent outbreaks.
 
First Infection
The recommended dose of acyclovir for treating an initial genital herpes infection is acyclovir 200 mg five times a day (about every four hours) for 10 days.
 
Later Outbreaks
For treatment of later outbreaks of genital herpes (after the first infection), the dose of acyclovir is 200 mg five times a day (about every four hours) for five days, starting at the very first signs of an outbreak. The earlier the medication is started, the better it works.
(Acyclovir Dosing Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;