Aciclovir or Valacyclovir is FDA approved drug and commonly used antiviral medication. It is available in form of Aciclovir tablets and capsules, Aciclovir suspension, and Acyclovir cream.
What is Acyclovir?
Acyclovir is an antiviral medication mainly used to treat herpes simplex infections. Aciclovir is also used to treat genital herpes (herpes simplex virus), cold sores (herpes simplex virus), chickenpox (varicella zoster), and shingles (herpes zoster). You can take it with or without food as your doctor recommends.
How does Acyclovir work for herpes simplex (cold sores)
The antiviral medications work by pointing to the herpes simplex virus that causes cold sores. Herpes simplex resides inside your body even after the cold sore outbreak gets debouched. That means you can experience future cold sore outbreaks.
As an antiviral medicine, Acyclovir aims to herpes simplex to lessen the severity of these outbreaks, sores heal faster, and help you stay healthy.
How does Acyclovir antiviral medication work for genital herpes
Genital herpes can be caused by herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2 both. Symptoms of genital herpes include blisters, itching, and uneasiness in the anal and genital areas. If you have genital herpes you can spread the infection to others through bodily fluids and sexual contact.
To treat genital herpes usually your health care provider will prescribe Acyclovir 200 mg or 400 mg tablets or Acyclovir oral suspension for 5 days. It is recommended to begin Aciclovir treatment promptly as your notice the very first symptoms to speed up the recovery process.
Antiviral medications such as Acyclovir work for genital herpes infection by targeting herpes simplex viruses inside the body and impeding their development. It recognizes the key proteins of the virus and deactivates them to help limit the infection and ease associated symptoms.
The most important thing you need to note down is that Acyclovir medicine does not cure herpes. Once you are infected with the herpes virus, it never leaves your body, however, it may stay inactive for a certain amount of time. It will remain inside you for the rest of your life and may get activated in the future.
Acyclovir can significantly lessen the likelihood and reoccurrence of herpes outbreaks ensuring the outbreaks are less severe.
Genital herpes carries a high recurrence rate. A study shows that 385 patients experienced at least 6 outbreaks yearly. Patients who frequently experience herpes infections are usually prescribed suppression therapy.
How long does Acyclovir take to work against infections?
Usually, Acyclovir works rapidly and you may feel relieved symptoms within 3 days of taking Acyclovir medication. Most people get rid of symptoms and feel much recovered even before they complete the medicine course mentioned on their prescription label.
Acyclovir works best when you take it within 24 to 48 hours after the symptoms appear or the first rash appears. If your doctor has prescribed you Acyclovir for chickenpox, usually the symptoms begin to dispel within 48 hours.
Where to buy Acyclovir?
A lot of people are confused about where they should buy Acyclovir. People who have a valid prescription can directly visit an online or offline pharmacy in order to buy Acyclovir medication. However, people who do not have a prescription firstly need a prescription to purchase Acyclovir.
Let’s discuss in detail about where you can buy Acyclovir.
Is Acyclovir available over the counter?
Acyclovir is a prescription-only medication which means you can only buy and use this drug if it is prescribed by a licensed healthcare professional. So Acyclovir tablets or suspension is not available over the counter. However, you can get Acyclovir cold sores cream over the counter in some countries.
How to get Acyclovir prescription?
Wondering where to get a prescription to buy Acyclovir medication? So the first option is, just to make an appointment with a healthcare professional or your regular doctor to get an Acyclovir prescription.
If you are experiencing herpes breakout for the first time, it is recommended to check with a doctor in order to make sure you have the correct diagnosis and that Aciclovir treatment is appropriate for you.
The second option is, to schedule an online health assessment with the medical advisors available at online pharmacies. It is an easy way to purchase Acyclovir to deal with recurring symptoms of herpes infection or suppress the symptoms in long term.
The online healthcare provider can help you decide the best course of treatment with Aciclovir. They can a new prescription for you or refill existing prescriptions. So if you are choosing to get Acyclovir tablets online you do not need a doctor’s prescription. Acyclovir 400 mg tablets cost around $8.50 for 15 tablets online.
Where to buy Acyclovir online?
Many online pharmacies are offering Aciclovir and delivering across the world. Push Health, Amazon, Blink Health, Sesamecae, PlushCare, and Superdrug are to name some. Their licensed medical doctors can prescribe Acyclovir online after a thorough medical evaluation.
During a virtual visit, a doctor will ask some questions to review your symptoms and medical history to make sure Aciclovir is the right treatment for you. Once the doctor evaluates your condition and finds it appropriate for you, they write a prescription and send it to the online pharmacy.
Most online pharmacies deliver both generic and brand-name versions of medications if available. You can buy Acyclovir as well as other generic medicines from online pharmacies.
How to Get Acyclovir Online?
If you have a valid prescription, you can upload your prescription in order to purchase your medication online. If you do not have a prescription or your prescription has expired, no worries just follow the below-mentioned steps.
Visit the website of an online pharmacy and book an appointment with their online healthcare providers avoiding the hassle of regularly visiting a doctor to get or refill your prescriptions.
The pharmacy will connect you to their online doctors. Tell your doctor about your symptoms and your medical history, medicines you are taking, allergic reactions to any ingredients, etc.
Once your doctor evaluates your condition and gets assured that Aciclovir antiviral drug is the right course of treatment for you, they prescribe along with the dosage instructions and send it to the pharmacy.
You will get your prescription right at your door and refill your Acyclovir medicine at the best price.
Why generic medications are cheaper than brand-name versions?
A generic medication is produced to be similar to the existing marketed brand-name medication in safety, strength dosage form, quality, intended use, route of administration, and performance features. As the patent expires, other pharmaceutical companies can also manufacture and sell the drug as a generic medicine.
Generic drugs can be created without recapping testing and research that cause a significant drop in the prices of medicine. Generic medicines cost cheaper than their brand-name versions because they do not require repeat animal and clinical studies as those of brand-name drugs to ensure the effectiveness and safety of the drugs.
Warnings
- Make sure your doctor knows about any medications, vitamins, herbal products, and supplements you are taking or planning to take.
- Inform your doctor if you have or previously had any medical condition that interferes with the immune system such as HIV.
- Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant, planning to be pregnant, or breast feeding your baby.
- Do not stop taking the prescribed medication early or skip doses and take exactly as prescribed by your doctor or pharmacist.
- If you missed a dose, take it immediately as you remember. If you remember when it’s time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule.
- In case of overdose seek medical attention right away. US residents can get medical help from the local poison control center and Canadian residents can seek help from a provincial poison control center.
- Keep the medicine away from sunlight and children.
Possible side effects of Acyclovir
Although side effects of using Aciclovir are uncommon, some people may experience mild adverse reactions after using this drug. The possible side effects may include nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, headache, diarrhea, and malaise.
Some serious side effects of Acyclovir include dizziness, mood changes, unsteady movement, kidney problems, and trouble speaking. it is not the complete list of side effects, talk to your doctor to know more.
These side effects rarely occur but if you experience any of these call your doctor immediately or report the side effects to Health Canada.