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Zovirax ointment is a prescription medication that is used to treat genital herpes and cold sores. This eMedTV article offers an overview of the drug, including information on how it works, dosing guidelines, possible side effects, and more.
Common side effects of Zovirax ointment include mild pain (such as burning or tingling) and itching. This eMedTV segment lists other Zovirax ointment side effects that can occur, including the ones that you should tell your doctor about.
Zovirax ointment is used primarily to treat certain types of genital herpes and cold sores. This page on the eMedTV Web site examines these and other Zovirax ointment uses, such as off-label uses for treating other viral skin infections.
There is only one standard Zovirax ointment dosage, regardless of other factors such as weight or age. This eMedTV Web page explains when and how often to apply the medication, and also offers some suggestions for those using it.
This eMedTV page explains that there are no known Zovirax ointment drug interactions, as only a small amount of the medicine is absorbed into the bloodstream. This page also explains that the ointment doesn't appear to interact with other creams.
This eMedTV page provides several Zovirax ointment warnings and precautions, including possible allergic reactions and not using the drug to treat herpes eye infections. This page also explains what to tell your doctor before using the ointment.
Signs of a Zovirax ointment overdose can include things such as agitation, seizures, or lethargy. This eMedTV page explains why it is unlikely for a person to take too much of the medication and what to do if you think you've overdosed on it.
In general, Zovirax ointment is considered safe for women who are pregnant. This eMedTV resource discusses the results of animal studies on Zovirax ointment and pregnancy, and explains why the FDA has classified it as a Category B medication.
This eMedTV segment explores Zovirax ointment and breastfeeding, explaining why it is generally considered safe to use the drug while breastfeeding, even though studies have shown that the active ingredient in it does pass through breast milk.
A generic Zovirax ointment is not available at this time. This portion of the eMedTV archives explains why this is the case and also provides some information on how people may be able to afford the cost of the expensive medication.
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