Cold Sore Cream Aciclovir 50mg

IMPORTANT:

- This is an over-the-counter medicine.
- Package insert is in Dutch!
- Translated package insert can be downloaded here:

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What is Cold Sore Cream Aciclovir 50mg and what is this medicine used for?

Cold Sore Cream Aciclovir 50mg contains aciclovir, an antiviral agent that fights herpes viruses and prevents their multiplication in the skin.

Cold Sore Cream Aciclovir 50mg is used to treat cold sores caused by the herpes virus.

How to use this medicine:

When you have a cold sore, you may experience cold sore blisters.
Symptoms indicating the onset of these blisters include painful, burning, and itching lips or numb lips. If you have had a cold sore before, you may recognize when an outbreak is coming. In that case, apply the cold sore cream immediately according to the instructions. Treatment can also be started at a later stage of the infection.

Always use this medicine exactly as described in the package leaflet or as directed by your doctor or pharmacist. Unsure about the correct use? Contact a doctor or pharmacist.

Disclaimer

Read the package leaflet before use.

Storage instructions

Keep out of the sight and reach of children.
Store below 25ºC. Do not refrigerate or freeze.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date. This is stated on the box or tube after “Do not use after” or “EXP”. It states a month and a year. The expiry date is the last day of that month. After opening the tube, this medicine can be kept for 12 months.
Do not flush medicines down the sink or toilet or throw them in the bin. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.

Instructions for use

Apply Aciclovir cream by squeezing a small amount of cream onto your fingertip and then applying it to the affected areas. The affected areas are those areas, including the lips, where the infection is active, i.e. where blisters are about to develop or have already appeared.

To prevent the virus from being transmitted to other parts of the body (e.g. the eyes) or to other people (e.g. through kissing), it is important to avoid touching the blisters as much as possible and to wash your hands after touching the blisters.

Apply the cream five times a day at intervals of approximately 4 hours. You do not need to apply any cream at night. Start treatment as soon as possible at the onset of the cold sore. Continue treatment for at least 4 days. If healing is not complete after ten days from the start of treatment, you are advised to consult a doctor.

Warnings/Restrictions on use

Be extra careful with this product:

• When applying the cream. Avoid any contact with mucous membranes, such as the mouth, eye or vagina, as this could cause irritation.
• Accidental administration into the eye should be avoided.
  If you have a severely reduced immune system (for example, if you are an AIDS patient or if you are a recipient of a bone marrow transplant). You may need to be treated with Aciclovir tablets. Consult your doctor about the treatment of any infection.
• The excipient propylene glycol can cause skin irritations and the excipient cetyl alcohol can cause local skin reactions (e.g. contact dermatitis).
• Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using this medicine.

Use during pregnancy/breastfeeding

When using this medicine during pregnancy, no harmful effects on the health of you or your unborn child are expected.

If you are breast-feeding, you may only use this medicine after consulting your doctor. The active substance is excreted in breast milk. However, the amount that babies can ingest as a result is negligible.

Contraindications/Do not use if you are allergic to the active substance aciclovir, valaciclovir, propylene glycol or any of the other ingredients of this medicine.

Ingredients

The active substance in this medicine is aciclovir. The other ingredients in this medicine are: PEG-5 glycerol stearate, dimethicone, cetyl alcohol, liquid paraffin, petrolatum, propylene glycol (E1520), purified water.