Aclovir 500 mg

Manufacturer	Commonly marketed by local pharmaceutical companies (e.g., Genixx or similar)
Active Ingredient	Acyclovir (as Acyclovir Sodium)
Strength	500 mg per vial (Powder for Solution for Infusion)
Pack Size	Varies (single vial or multi-vial pack)
Requires Prescription?	Yes (Hospital Use / Specialist Prescription)
Generic Name	Acyclovir

Aclovir 500 mg – Ingredients and Usage

The active substance in Aclovir 500 mg Injection is Acyclovir, a potent synthetic nucleoside analogue. The 500 mg vial contains a sterile lyophilized powder that must be reconstituted and diluted for slow intravenous (IV) infusion. This concentration is reserved for severe or systemic viral infections. Indications include:

• Herpes Simplex Encephalitis
• Severe initial or recurrent genital herpes
• Mucocutaneous HSV infections in immunocompromised patients
• Varicella-Zoster infections (Shingles/Chickenpox) in immunocompromised individuals
• Neonatal Herpes Simplex Virus infection

How Aclovir 500 mg Works

Acyclovir works by selectively inhibiting the replication of herpes viruses. Its mechanism of action includes:

1. Viral Activation: In infected cells, viral Thymidine Kinase (TK) converts Acyclovir into its monophosphate form.
2. Active Form Conversion: Host enzymes convert this into the active form, Acyclovir triphosphate.
3. DNA Chain Termination: Acyclovir triphosphate is incorporated into viral DNA, causing chain termination and preventing further viral replication.

Aclovir 500 mg – Side Effects and Warnings

Because Aclovir 500 mg is administered intravenously, it may cause injection site reactions, nausea, vomiting, headache, or fatigue.

Warnings:

1. Renal Toxicity: Must be infused slowly over at least one hour. Rapid infusion or dehydration may cause kidney damage. Adequate hydration is essential.
2. Neurotoxicity: Confusion, tremors, hallucinations, or seizures may occur, especially in elderly patients or those with renal impairment.
3. TTP/HUS: Rare but serious blood disorders have been reported in immunocompromised patients receiving high doses.
4. Administration: For IV infusion only. Do not administer intramuscularly, subcutaneously, or as a rapid IV push.

Storage Conditions

• Store unopened vials at 15°C–25°C (59°F–77°F). Do not freeze.
• Protect from light by keeping vials in the original carton.
• Use reconstituted solutions immediately whenever possible. Stability is documented for up to 12 hours at room temperature, but immediate use is recommended.
• Any temporary precipitation in refrigerated solutions will dissolve again at room temperature.
• Keep out of reach of children.