Name
ACICLOVIR EG 5% cream
Equivalent medicine
What is it and what is it for?
ACICLOVIR EG is a cream to be applied to the skin that contains the active substance aciclovir, which belongs to a group of medicines used against viral infections (antivirals).
ACICLOVIR EG is used to treat infections caused by the Herpes simplex virus, both of the lips (cold sores) and of the genitals (primary or recurrent genital herpes).
Talk to your doctor if you do not feel better or if you feel worse after a few days.
What you need to know before taking the medicine
Do not use ACICLOVIR EG
- if you are allergic to aciclovir, valaciclovir, propylene glycol or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using ACICLOVIR EG.
ACICLOVIR EG should not be applied to the eyes or to the internal mucous membranes of the mouth or vagina, as it may cause irritation.
Talk to your doctor and use this medicine with caution if you have a weakened immune system, as you are more susceptible to infections (for example, if you have AIDS or have had a bone marrow transplant). In this case, you may need to take oral aciclovir.
Avoid prolonged treatment, as it may cause an allergic reaction (sensitization). If this occurs, stop treatment immediately and contact your doctor.
Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
The following side effects may occur:
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):
- transient burning or pain;
- moderate dryness and loss of the top layer (scaling) of the skin; - itching.
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):
- redness of the skin (erythema);
- inflammatory skin reaction (contact dermatitis), mainly due to the components of the base cream.
Very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people):
- allergic reactions that manifest themselves with swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue or throat and which may cause difficulty swallowing and breathing (angioedema), hives.
Reporting of side effects
If you experience any side effects, including any not listed in this leaflet, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. You can also report side effects directly via the national reporting system at: https://www.aifa.gov.it/content/segnalazionireazioni-avverse .
By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.