1. What is Aciclovir Oral Suspension and what is it used for
2. What do you need to know before you take Aciclovir Oral Suspension
3. How to take Aciclovir Oral Suspension
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Aciclovir Oral Suspension
6. Contents of the pack and other information

• you are allergic (hypersensitive) to aciclovir, valaciclovir or any other ingredients in this liquid (see section 6: Further Information). An allergic reaction can include a rash, itching or shortness of breath.

Do not take this medicine if any of the above apply to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking aciclovir.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking aciclovir if:

• you have kidney problems
• you are over 65 years of age. Your doctor may adjust your dose to reduce the risk of side effects
• you are thirsty. You must make sure you drink plenty of 'liquids such as water' whilst taking this medicine.

If you are not sure if any of the above apply to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using aciclovir.

Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines. This includes medicines bought without a prescription, including herbal medicines.

In particular tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

• probenecid - used for gout
• cimetidine - used for stomach acid
• mycophenolate mofetil - used after transplant operations

Tell your doctor you are taking this medicine if you are going to have any blood or urine tests.

Talk to your doctor before taking this medicine if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or are breast-feeding.

Some side effects such as feeling drowsy or sleepy may impair your ability to concentrate and react.

Make sure you are not affected before you drive or operate machinery.

This medicine contains:

• methyl (E219) and propyl (E217) parahydroxybenzoates. May cause allergic reactions (possibly delayed).
• liquid maltitol (E965). If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product.
• ethanol (alcohol). This medicine contains 18mg of alcohol (ethanol) in each 5ml dose. The amount in 5ml of this medicine is equivalent to less than 1ml beer or 1ml wine. The small amount of alcohol in this medicine will not have any noticeable effects.
• This medicine contains less than 1mmol sodium (23mg) per 5ml dose, that is to say essentially “sodium free”.

• This medicine contains 200mg of aciclovir in each 5ml
• Take this medicine by mouth
• Drink plenty of ‘liquids such as water’ while taking this medicine
• Always shake the bottle before use
• If you feel that the effect of your medicine is too strong or too weak, do not change the dose yourself, but talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

The usual doses are given below. These may be changed by your doctor:

Adults

Herpes Simplex

This medicine is the most appropriate treatment for Herpes Simplex

• Take for at least 5 days
• One 5ml spoonful (200mg), five times each day
• Take every four hours while awake (for example, 6am, 10am, 2pm, 6pm, 10pm)

Shingles and Chickenpox

• Take for 7 days
• Four 5ml spoonfuls (800mg), five times each day
• Take every four hours while awake (for example, 6am, 10am, 2pm, 6pm, 10pm)

Stopping these problems returning after you have had them

• adults: one 5ml spoonful (200mg), four times each day.
• you should try to space each dose by 6 hours.
• you should take this medicine until your doctor tells you to stop.

Stopping these problems in people whose immune systems work less well and whose bodies are less able to fight infection

• adults and children over 2 years: one 5ml spoonful (200mg), four times each day.
• children under 2 years: 2.5ml of suspension (100mg), four times a day.
• you should try to space each dose by 6 hours.
• you should take this medicine until your doctor tells you to stop.

Children

Herpes Simplex

• Take for at least 5 days
  Children over 2 years
  • One 5ml spoonful (200mg), five times each day
  • Take every four hours while awake (for example, 6am, 10am, 2pm, 6pm, 10pm)
  Children under 2 years
  • 2.5ml of suspension (100mg), five times each day
  • Take every four hours while awake (for example, 6am, 10am, 2pm, 6pm, 10pm)

Chickenpox

• Take for 5 days
  Age 6 and above
  • Four 5ml spoonfuls (800mg), four times each day
  Age 2 to 5 years
  • Two 5ml spoonfuls (400mg), four times each day
  Under 2 years
  • One 5ml spoonful (200mg), four times each day

Elderly and people with kidney problems

Your doctor may decide to lower your dose if you are elderly or have kidney problems.

Talk to your doctor or go to your nearest hospital straight away. Take the medicine pack with you.

Do not take a double dose (two doses at the same time) to make up for a forgotten dose. Take your next dose as soon as you remember, then go on as before. However, if it is nearly time for the next dose, skip the missed dose.

If you have an allergic reaction to aciclovir see a doctor straight away

An allergic reaction may include:

• any kind of skin rash, flaking skin, boils or sore lips and mouth
• swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat or difficulty breathing or swallowing
• sudden wheezing, fluttering or tightness of the chest or collapse

Common (affects less than 1 in 10 people)

• headaches
• feeling dizzy
• feeling or being sick
• diarrhoea
• stomach pains
• itching
• skin rash that happens in people who are oversensitive to sunlight
• feeling very tired
• fever

Uncommon (affects less than 1 in 100 people)

• skin rashes (causing itchiness or redness)
• hair loss

Rare (affects less than 1 in 1,000 people)

• shortness of breath
• this medicine may also cause changes in the results of blood tests such as a fall in the number of white blood cells
• changes in blood tests that check the way your liver or kidneys are working
• swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat

Very rare (affects less than 1 in 10,000 people)

• blood disorders such as nose bleeds, bruising more easily than usual, sore throat, high temperatures or chills, mouth ulcers and unusual tiredness.
• feeling weak. This could be caused by something called ‘anaemia’
• feeling agitated
• shaking
• seeing or hearing things that are not there (hallucinations)
• fits
• feeling sleepy
• difficulty in controlling your movements or speech
• feeling confused
• loss of consciousness
• liver problems (hepatitis)
• yellowing of your skin or whites of the eyes (jaundice)
• kidney failure (which usually returns to normal)
• pain in your lower back, the kidney area of your back or above your hip (renal pain)

If you get any side effects talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.

By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

• The active ingredient is aciclovir
• The other ingredients are sodium methyl hydroxybenzoate (E219), sodium propyl hydroxybenzoate (E217), citric acid (E330), xanthan gum (E415), liquid maltitol (E965), compound orange spirit (contains ethanol), vanillin and purified water.

A white to light beige suspension with an odour of orange and vanilla.

It comes in a brown glass bottle holding 125ml of suspension.