INFORMATION FOR CONSUMERS
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The sponsor (pharmaceutical company) of this product has
advised Medsafe that this product has either been discontinued or is no longer
marketed in New Zealand.
Therefore this CMI may not be up to date.
Medsafe has elected to leave it on this web site because supplies of this
product may still be available, and consumers should continue to have access
to this product information in the interim.
You may be able to find a more current CMI containing the same medicine by
returning to the main CMI page and searching by ingredient name.
This leaflet answers some common questions about ACICVIR 800. It does not contain all of the available information.
Reading this leaflet does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
Taking any medicine involves some risk. It is possible that all risks associated with this medicine might not have been detected, despite proper testing. Only your doctor or pharmacist is able to weigh up all of the relevant facts, and you should consult them if you have any queries.
If you have any concerns about taking ACICVIR 800 ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this information. You may want to read it again.
This leaflet provides information about ACICVIR 800. The statements that are made in this leaflet cannot be applied to any other medicine, even those that are similar or appear to contain the same ingredients.
ACICVIR 800 is used for the treatment of shingles, which is also known as herpes zoster. Shingles is caused by the same virus which causes chicken pox. It usually involves nerve pain and a blistery rash, limited to one area of the body.
Acyclovir (the active ingredient in ACICVIR 800) belongs to a group of medicines called "anti-virals". ACICVIR 800 works by stopping the production of the shingles virus. This reduces the length and severity of an outbreak of shingles. ACICVIR 800 does not get rid of the virus from your body.
Your doctor may, however, have prescribed ACICVIR 800 for a different use to that described above. If you have any questions about why you are taking ACICVIR 800 ask your doctor or pharmacist. Your doctor or pharmacist will be able to provide you with more information.
ACICVIR 800 is not suitable for everyone.
Be sure that your doctor knows about the following before you take ACICVIR 800:
Your doctor or pharmacist will have a complete list of the medicines that may cause problems when taken with ACICVIR 800.
Take ACICVIR 800 as directed by your doctor or pharmacist. Never change the dose yourself.
Your doctor and pharmacist will be able to tell you:
The label on the pack that the tablets were supplied in will give the same information. If there is something that you do not understand ask either your doctor or pharmacist.
The usual dose of ACICVIR 800 in the treatment of shingles is one 800 mg tablet every four hours while awake (equivalent to five tablets daily) for seven days. Your doctor may vary your ACICVIR 800 dosage if you also suffer from other medical conditions.
If you have any questions about the dose that you have been prescribed you should ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Your ACICVIR 800 tablets may be swallowed whole with a glass of water, or dispersed in a quarter of a glass of water (about 50 mL) and then swallowed.
If you have just missed your scheduled dose, take it as soon as you remember and continue as before. If you have forgotten to take one dose of ACICVIR 800 and it is almost time to take your next scheduled dose, then skip the dose you have missed, and continue taking your ACICVIR 800 as directed by your doctor or pharmacist.
If you have forgotten to take more than one dose contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose that you have missed.
All medicines can have some side effects. Sometimes they are serious. Most of the time they are not.
ACICVIR 800 helps most people with shingles. In a few people it may have some unwanted side effects.
Be sure that your doctor or pharmacist knows as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking ACICVIR 800. Often it is difficult to tell the difference between side effects of medication and symptoms of the underlying illness.
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following:
If you think you are having an allergic (hypersensitivity) reaction to ACICVIR 800, TELL YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY. Symptoms include:
This is not a complete list of side effects. A small number of patients have had other unwanted effects after taking ACICVIR 800.
There is no evidence that ACICVIR 800 is addictive.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have, or if you don't understand anything in this list.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side-effects. You may not experience any of them.
Do not stop taking ACICVIR 800 just because you feel better.
It is important that you complete your course of tablets to effectively treat the shingles.
Your doctor will advise you when to stop taking ACICVIR 800.
If you are unsure whether you should stop taking ACICVIR 800 talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Drink plenty of fluids.
Your doctor or pharmacist will be able to tell you whether there are any special instructions while you are taking ACICVIR 800.
See your doctor if you feel that your condition is not improving or getting worse.
Immediately contact your doctor or Poisons Information Centre for advice (0800 POISON or 0800 764 766) or go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital, if you think that you may have taken too much, or if anyone else has taken any ACICVIR 800 by mistake. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention.
Keep telephone numbers for these places handy.
Keep your tablets in the pack that they were supplied in.
Keep ACICVIR 800 in a cool, dark and dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C.
Do not leave ACICVIR 800 in the car on hot days. Do not store ACICVIR 800 in the bathroom or near a sink. Heat and dampness may affect ACICVIR 800.
Keep ACICVIR 800, and all other medicines, where children cannot reach them.
If your doctor advises you to stop taking ACICVIR 800 ask your pharmacist what to do with any remaining tablets.
Your medicine is in the form of a dispersible tablet. Each tablet contains 800mg of the active ingredient acyclovir. The tablets are white, modified-rectangle, biconvex, with G debossed on one side and AC800 the other side.
Each tablet also contains magnesium stearate, crospovidone, microcrystalline cellulose, povidone, colloidal silicon dioxide, polysorbate and purified talc.
ACICVIR 800 does not contain lactose or gluten.
Should you have any questions regarding this product, please contact your doctor or pharmacist.
Distributed in New Zealand by:
Pacific Pharmaceuticals Ltd,
P O Box 11183,
Ellerslie,
Auckland.
Date of issue of patient information - 18 December 2001.