Acyclovir Cream Dosing

Acyclovir cream dosing guidelines are the same for anyone who is taking the medication for treating cold sores, regardless of age, weight, or other medical conditions. The medication should be applied to the lips and skin of the face at the onset of a cold-sore outbreak, and should be applied five times a day for four days. You should not swallow acyclovir cream or use the cream inside your mouth or nose.

 

Acyclovir Cream Dosing: An Introduction

There is only one standard recommended dosage for acyclovir cream (Zovirax® cream), regardless of your age, weight, or other medical conditions.
 
As is always the case, do not adjust your acyclovir cream dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
 

Acyclovir Cream Dosing for Cold Sores

Acyclovir cream should be applied five times per day for four days. You should start using it at the very first signs of an outbreak. It is best to have an extra tube of acyclovir cream on hand, if possible, to avoid delays in starting the medication.
 

General Information on Acyclovir Cream Dosing

Considerations for people taking acyclovir cream include the following:
 
  • The medication is to be used on the lips and skin of the face; it is not meant to be ingested or to be used inside the mouth or nose.
     
  • You should use disposable rubber, latex, or similar gloves to apply acyclovir cream in order to prevent spreading the infection to other parts of your body. Or, make sure to wash your hands thoroughly after each application.
     
  • For the medication to work properly, it must be taken as prescribed. Make sure to take acyclovir cream as directed by your healthcare provider.
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;