CONTRAINDICATIONS:
-
Anyone with any compromised immune system,
advanced HIV disease, kidney or organ transplant should not use Zovirax
(acyclovir) cream. If you have any questions about your medical condition,
consult your primary care physician before using Zovirax (acyclovir) cream.
-
Hypersensitivity to any ingredient of
Zovirax (acyclovir) cream: acyclovir
or valacyclovir or any of the inactive ingredients: cetostearyl alcohol,
mineral oil, poloxamer 407, propylene glycol, sodium lauryl sulfate, water,
and white petrolatum.
-
Absolutely no one under the age of 18
should use Zovirax (acyclovir) cream. ( Zovirax (acyclovir) cream has been
tested in children as young as 12 years old, but you need to directly consult
your pediatrician for anyone under age 18.)
-
Absolutely no one with compromised immune
systems who has had an organ transplant, a kidney transplant or a bone
marrow transplant should use Zovirax (acyclovir) cream.
-
Absolutely no one with advanced HIV
disease should use Zovirax (acyclovir) cream.
-
Pregnant women and nursing mothers should
NOT use Zovirax (acyclovir) cream, there are no adequate well controlled
studies or results to guarantee safety, and whether the active ingredients
may get into breast milk. It is a Pregnancy Category B.
IMPORTANT
WARNING:
Zovirax (acyclovir) cream
is approved for the treatment of acute outbreaks of cold sores ADULTS with
NORMAL immune systems only! There are no adequate studies of Zovirax
(acyclovir) cream during pregnancy, therefore Zovirax
(acyclovir) cream should not be used by pregnant
women or nursing woman. Once infected, the herpes virus stays in
your body forever. You are most contagious during active cold sore
outbreaks, using Zovirax (acyclovir) cream shortens
the duration of the cold sore but does not necessarily affect your being
contagious to others. Even when you have no active lesions you could
still be shedding the virus in your saliva. To minimize spreading
of the virus, refrain from kissing when you have open lesions and minimize
touching of lesions.
Zovirax (acyclovir) cream should
only be applied externally to the lips and face. Zovirax (acyclovir)
cream should NEVER be applied to mucous membranes,
inside the mouth, or for genital herpes. Use caution and do
not get in eyes. Zovirax (acyclovir) cream is
to be used externally, topically only! If ingested by mistake call
911 immediately or your local poison center for emergency treatment.
IMPORTANT
INFORMATION:
Zovirax (acyclovir) cream is
not a cure for cold sores and transmission of infection to others
can occur during asymptomatic viral shedding even when there are no lesions
present. Zovirax (acyclovir) cream does not
alter the need for precaution in spreading the disease to others. |
