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Suggest Dosage Of Acyclovir For Herpes Labialis
Question: I have herpes labialis that for some reason recently has been trying to break out all the time. I was put on suppressive therapy with acyclovir at the dosage of 400 mg 2x a day. Before I was taking Valtrex, but I started to have depression as a side effect from the Valtrex. The acyclovir does not make me depressed, but with the Valtrex I knew the dose to take if I started to have an outbreak. If I am on supressive therapy with acyclovir at 400 mg 2x a day and start to have prodromal symptoms, what is the appropriate dose of acyclovir to keep an attack from happening?
Brief Answer:
Please see description
Detailed Answer:
Hello
My name is Dr Muhammad Ali Rauf & i will look into your problem.
I have gone through your description and i concluded that you want to know the dose of acyclovir to start at earliest sign or symptom of recurrence. In this case the dose will be:
200mg x 4 hrly while you are awake(5 times a day) for 5 days
You should be aware that recurrences can occur in cold weather, with fever,pregnancy, stress , low immunity, periods or with medicines like steroids. Recurrent infection usually begins as tingling and numbness at site of development of cold sore and are mostly not associated with systemic symptoms like fever malaise etc. But may occur in some people.
Hope I have answered your query. If you have any further questions I will be happy to help. If you do not have any clarifications, you can close the discussion and rate the answer. Wish you good health.
Please see description
Detailed Answer:
Hello
My name is Dr Muhammad Ali Rauf & i will look into your problem.
I have gone through your description and i concluded that you want to know the dose of acyclovir to start at earliest sign or symptom of recurrence. In this case the dose will be:
200mg x 4 hrly while you are awake(5 times a day) for 5 days
You should be aware that recurrences can occur in cold weather, with fever,pregnancy, stress , low immunity, periods or with medicines like steroids. Recurrent infection usually begins as tingling and numbness at site of development of cold sore and are mostly not associated with systemic symptoms like fever malaise etc. But may occur in some people.
Hope I have answered your query. If you have any further questions I will be happy to help. If you do not have any clarifications, you can close the discussion and rate the answer. Wish you good health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
I basically take this dose already because I am on suppressive therapy and take 400 mg twice a day. I want to know what to up the dose to and for how long when even though I'm on suppressive therapy, I start to have prodomal symptoms and want to avoid an outbreak.
Brief Answer:
Up to 2 gm daily for 7-10 days.
Detailed Answer:
Hello
First if all i'm sorry for not understanding clearly. I have gone through your query again. You are on suppressive therapy and want to know the dose of acyclovir if prodromal(first) symptom of disease occurs. In this case your dose will be :
You can take 400 mg orally 5 time daily (which means up to 2 gm daily). Discuss about this your doctor.
Duration of therapy will range from 7-10 days depending upon severity of the disease.
Hope I have answered your query. If you have any further questions I will be happy to help. Wish you good health.
Up to 2 gm daily for 7-10 days.
Detailed Answer:
Hello
First if all i'm sorry for not understanding clearly. I have gone through your query again. You are on suppressive therapy and want to know the dose of acyclovir if prodromal(first) symptom of disease occurs. In this case your dose will be :
You can take 400 mg orally 5 time daily (which means up to 2 gm daily). Discuss about this your doctor.
Duration of therapy will range from 7-10 days depending upon severity of the disease.
Hope I have answered your query. If you have any further questions I will be happy to help. Wish you good health.
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
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