Acyclovir, Ophthalmic
“This page provides important general information for pet owners whose animals have been prescribed Acyclovir, Ophthalmic in Perth during a consultation by Dr Noor.”
Acyclovir, Ophthalmic
(a-sye-klo-veer)
Description: Acyclovir, Ophthalmic
This medicine is used to fight viruses.
Other Names for this Medication:
- Zovirax®
- Acycloguanosine
Common Dosage Forms:
- For animals: There is no standard animal-made version.
- For people: Acyclovir is approved for people as a tablet taken by mouth and as a cream put on the skin. In some other countries, eye products that contain acyclovir do exist. A trained professional may be able to specially prepare (compound) an acyclovir eye ointment.
This handout does not include every piece of information that exists about this medicine. It is meant to address common questions, but it does not replace medical guidance. If you have questions or want more details about this medicine, contact your veterinarian or your pharmacist.
Key Information
- This medicine is used 5 times a day for virus-related eye infections.
- After you put this medicine in the eye, wait 5 minutes before you put any other eye medicine in.
- Keep it at normal room temperature and protect it from dampness and direct light; do not let it freeze. Throw it away if the color looks different, or if the medicine turns cloudy.
- Prevent cats from licking this medicine off while grooming.
How is this medication useful?
Acyclovir has been used as a medicine placed on the eye to help with eye infections caused by the herpes virus in horses and cats.
This medicine has been approved for people, but not for animals. In some cases, veterinarians may prescribe medicines that contain this drug for other animal species or for different health problems. Acyclovir can be specially made into a 0.5% eye ointment for use in the eye. You and your veterinarian can talk about why this option is the best fit.
What should I tell my veterinarian to see if this medication can be safely given?
Many different factors can change how well this medicine works for your animal. Talk with your veterinarian about the points below so you can make treatment choices together.
- Some medicines can affect how this one works. Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about everything your animal receives, including other eye medicines, vitamins, supplements, or herbal products. Also share how much you give and when you give each one.
- Tell your veterinarian about any health problems your animal has now, or has had before.
- If your animal has had the same problem before, tell your veterinarian what was used last time and whether it helped or did not help.
- If your animal is pregnant or nursing, discuss possible risks of using this medicine.
- Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist if your animal has ever had medicine-related problems before, including allergic reactions, not wanting to eat, diarrhea, itching, or hair loss.
How long until I will know if this medication is working, and how long will the effects of this medication last?
- You usually need to give several doses before you notice any change.
- The strongest results may not show up until your animal has received the medicine regularly for several weeks. You should still notice your animal’s signs slowly improving as time goes on, until the medicine reaches its full effect.
- This medicine does not last long in the body. Its effect ends within 24 hours.
When should this medication not be used or be used very carefully?
No medicine is completely safe for every patient. Your veterinarian will talk with you about any special reasons to be careful with this medicine for your animal.
This drug should be used WITH CAUTION in:
- If your animal fits any of the situations listed, speak with your veterinarian about weighing possible risks against possible benefits.
- Cats that will swallow it.
- Animals that are pregnant or nursing.
What are the side effects of this medication?
Side effects that may be serious or indicate a serious problem:
If you notice any of the problems listed, contact your veterinarian right away.
- A small amount of burning, discomfort, or eye redness.
- Upset stomach with nausea and vomiting.
- Feeling dizzy or unusually sleepy.
- Possible signs of kidney trouble (for example, changes in how much urine is made, or pain in the back or sides).
- Very strong tiredness.
- Bruising or bleeding that is not expected.
- Not wanting to eat.
If my animal gets too much of this medication (an overdose), what should I do?
When acyclovir is used as an eye medicine, giving too much is unlikely. However, problems can happen if your animal eats the medicine.
If your animal swallows it, contact your veterinarian or an animal poison control center right away for guidance.
How should this medication be given?
For this medicine to work properly, you must give it exactly the way your veterinarian instructed. Always read the prescription label so you confirm you are giving it the right way.
- Clean your hands before each time you use it.
- Put this medicine into your animal’s eye using the exact amount your veterinarian told you to use.
- To avoid getting germs into the container, do not touch the tip of the bottle/dropper, and do not let it touch your animal’s eye or any surface.
- If any medicine remains on the fur or skin around your animal’s face after dosing, softly clean it away using a damp tissue or cloth.
- If you need to use more than one eye medicine, leave a 5-minute gap between each one.
- If you are using both eye drops and eye ointment, use the drops first so they can soak in before the ointment is applied.
- If giving the medicine is difficult or your animal resists, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist for ideas on how to give it and how to make dosing less stressful.
This medicine may be used for different lengths of time. Make sure you clearly understand how long your veterinarian wants you to keep giving it. You may need prescription refills before the full course is finished. Do not stop this medicine without speaking to your veterinarian first, because there may be important reasons to continue.
What should I do if I miss giving a dose of this medication?
If you forget a dose, give it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next scheduled dose, do not give the missed one; instead, give the next dose at the usual time. Then continue with the normal schedule. Do not give two doses at once and do not give extra.
How should I store this medication?
- Keep this medicine in the original prescription container, or in another approved container used to organize doses (such as a pill organizer). Store it at room temperature and keep it away from light.
- If your veterinarian or pharmacist has specially prepared (compounded) a version for your animal, follow the storage directions and the expiration date provided for that product.
- Store it where children and other animals cannot reach it.
Can handling this medication be hazardous to me, my family, or other animals?
There are no special safety steps needed when handling this medicine unless you are allergic to it or to similar medicines. After you handle any medicine, wash your hands.
How should I dispose of this medication if I don’t use it all?
- Do not put this medicine into the toilet and do not pour it into a sink drain.
- If your area has a medicine return program (“take-back”), use that option.
- If there is no take-back program, combine the medicine with something undesirable like used coffee grounds or cat litter. This helps keep it less appealing to children and animals and less recognizable to anyone searching through trash. Put the mixture into a sealable plastic bag so it will not leak, and then place it in the household trash.
- Do not keep leftover medicine to use later, and do not give it to anyone else.
What other information is important for this medication?
- Some animal competitions may not allow the use of this medicine. Before entering a competition while your animal is receiving this medicine, check the rules.
- If you have more questions about this medicine, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist.
“Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided as general educational material only. Every animal’s health situation is unique, and treatment decisions must be based on a full veterinary assessment. Always follow the specific instructions given during your consultation, and contact the prescribing veterinarian if you have any concerns.”