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Aciclovir 200mg Tablets

Active Ingredient:
aciclovir
Company:  
Aurobindo Pharma - Milpharm Ltd. See contact details
ATC code: 
J05AB01
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About Medicine
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Prescription only medicine
Healthcare Professionals (SmPC) Patient Leaflet (PIL)
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The Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) is the leaflet included in the pack with a medicine.
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Last updated on emc: 12 May 2026
{pdf} View or print the patient leaflet as PDF

Below is a text only representation of the Patient Information Leaflet (ePIL).

The text only version may be available in large print, Braille or audio CD. For further information call emc accessibility on {phone} 0800 198 5000. The product code(s) for this leaflet is: PL 16363/0556.

{printer} Print patient leaflet as text only

Aciclovir 200mg Tablets

Package leaflet: Information for the user

Aciclovir 200 mg Tablets

aciclovir

Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.
  • Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
  • If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist or nurse.
  • This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
  • If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.

What is in this leaflet

1. What Aciclovir 200 mg Tablets are and what they are used for
2. What you need to know before you take Aciclovir 200 mg Tablets
3. How to take Aciclovir 200 mg Tablets
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Aciclovir 200 mg Tablets
6. Contents of the pack and other information

1. What Aciclovir 200 mg Tablets are and what they are used for

Aciclovir 200 mg Tablets contain a medicine called aciclovir. This belongs to a group of medicines called antivirals. It works by killing or stopping the growth of viruses.

Aciclovir can be used to

  • treat chickenpox and shingles
  • treat cold sores, genital herpes and other herpes simplex infections
  • stop these problems returning after you have had them
  • stop these problems in people whose immune system works less well, which means their bodies are less able to fight infections

2. What you need to know before you take Aciclovir 200 mg Tablets
Do not take Aciclovir 200 mg Tablets:
  • if you are allergic to aciclovir or valaciclovir or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).

Do not take Aciclovir 200 mg Tablets if the above applies to you. If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Aciclovir 200 mg Tablets.

Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Aciclovir 200 mg Tablets

  • if you have kidney problems
  • if you are over 65 years of age

If you are not sure if the above apply to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Aciclovir 200 mg Tablets. It is important that you drink plenty of water while taking Aciclovir 200 mg Tablets

Other medicines and Aciclovir 200 mg Tablets

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. This includes medicines obtained without a prescription, including herbal medicines.

In particular tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of the following medicines.

  • probenecid, used to treat gout
  • cimetidine, used to treat stomach ulcers
  • mycophenolate mofetil, used to stop your body rejecting transplanted organs

Pregnancy, breast-feeding and fertility

If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.

Driving and using machines

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.

Aciclovir 200 mg Tablets contain sodium

This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per each tablet, that is to say essentially ‘sodium-free’.

3. How to take Aciclovir 200 mg Tablets

Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you.

Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

Taking this medicine
  • Take this medicine by mouth
  • Dissolve the tablet in a glass of water and stir before drinking
  • If you prefer, the tablet can also be swallowed whole with a little water.
  • Start to take Aciclovir 200 mg Tablets as soon as possible.

The dose that you should take will depend on what you have been given Aciclovir 200 mg Tablets for. Your doctor will discuss this with you. An 800 mg tablet is also available.

The recommended dose is:

Treatment of chickenpox and shingles

  • The usual dose is 800 mg taken five times a day
  • You should space each dose by 4 hours
    Suggested times are: 7am, 11am, 3pm, 7pm and 11pm
  • You should take Aciclovir 200 mg Tablets for seven days.

Treatment of cold sores and genital herpes

  • The usual dose is one 200 mg tablet taken five times a day
  • You should space each dose by 4 hours
    Suggested times are: 7am, 11am, 3pm, 7pm and 11pm
  • You should take Aciclovir 200 mg Tablets for five days, or longer if your doctor tells you to.

Stopping these problems returning after you have had them

  • The usual dose is one 200 mg tablet taken four times a day
  • You should try to space each dose by 6 hours
  • You should take Aciclovir 200 mg Tablets 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 infections

  • The usual dose is one 200 mg tablet taken four times a day
  • You should try to space each dose by 6 hours
  • You should take Aciclovir 200 mg Tablets until your doctor tells you to stop.

Your doctor may adjust the dose of Aciclovir 200 mg Tablets if:

  • it is for a child
  • you are over 65 years of age
  • you have kidney problems. If you have kidney problems, it is important to drink plenty of water while you are being treated with Aciclovir 200 mg Tablets

Talk to your doctor before taking Aciclovir 200 mg Tablets if any of the above apply.

If you take more Aciclovir 200mg Tablets than you should

Aciclovir 200 mg Tablets are not usually harmful, unless you take too much over several days. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you take too much Aciclovir 200 mg Tablets. Take the medicine pack with you.

If you forget to take Aciclovir 200 mg Tablets
  • If you forget to take Aciclovir 200 mg Tablets, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is nearly time for your next dose, skip the missed dose.
  • Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.

If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

4. Possible side effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

Allergic reactions (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)

If you have an allergic reaction, stop taking Aciclovir 200 mg Tablets and see a doctor straight away. The signs may include:

  • rash, itching or hives on your skin
  • swelling of your face, lips, tongue or other parts of your body
  • shortness of breath, wheezing or trouble breathing
  • collapse

Other side effects include:

Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)

  • headache
  • feeling dizzy
  • feeling or being sick
  • diarrhoea
  • stomach pains
  • rash
  • skin reaction after exposure to light (photosensitivity)
  • itching
  • feeling tired
  • unexplained fever (high temperature) and feeling faint, especially when standing up.

Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)

  • itchy, hive-like rash
  • hair loss.

Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)

  • effects on some blood and urine tests
  • increases in the enzymes that work in the liver.

Very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people)

  • reduced numbers of red blood cells (anaemia)
  • reduced numbers of white blood cells (leukopenia)
  • reduced numbers of blood platelets (cells that help blood to clot) (thrombocytopenia)
  • feeling weak
  • feeling agitated or confused
  • shaking or tremors
  • hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t there)
  • fits
  • feeling unusually sleepy or drowsy
  • unsteadiness when walking and lack of coordination
  • difficulty speaking
  • inability to think or judge clearly
  • unconsciousness (coma)
  • paralysis of part or all of your body
  • disturbances of behaviour, speech and eye movements
  • stiff neck and sensitivity to light
  • inflammation of the liver (hepatitis)
  • yellowing of your skin and whites of your eyes (jaundice)
  • kidney problems where you pass little or no urine
  • pain in your lower back, the kidney area of your back or just above your hip (renal pain).

Reporting of side effects

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard. or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. How to store Aciclovir 200 mg Tablets

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton and blister after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.

This medicinal product does not require any special storage conditions.

Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.

6. Contents of the pack and other information

Aciclovir Tablets are available in three different strengths:

However, this leaflet applies only to 200 mg strength.

What Aciclovir 200 mg Tablets contain

The active substance is aciclovir. Each tablet contains 200 mg of aciclovir.

The other ingredients are:

Cellulose, microcrystalline [Grade 101], sodium starch glycolate [Type - A], povidone [K - 30], silica colloidal anhydrous and magnesium stearate.

What Aciclovir 200 mg Tablets look like and contents of the pack

Tablet.

White to off-white, round (diameter: 9.5 mm), biconvex, uncoated tablets debossed with ‘AR 200’ on one side and plain on the other side.

Aciclovir 200 mg Tablets are available in blister pack of 25 tablets.

Marketing Authorisation Holder
Milpharm Limited
1 Roundwood Avenue
Stockley Park
Uxbridge
UB11 1AF
United Kingdom

Manufacturer
APL Swift Services (Malta) Limited
HF26
Hal Far Industrial Estate
Hal Far Birzebbugia
BBG 3000
Malta

or

Milpharm Limited
1 Roundwood Avenue
Stockley Park
Uxbridge
UB11 1AF
United Kingdom

or

Generis Farmacêutica, S.A.
Rua Joao de Deus
n. o 19
Venda Nova
2700- 487
Amadora
Portugal

This leaflet was last revised in 10/2025.

P1540039

Aurobindo Pharma - Milpharm Ltd.
Company image
Address
Milpharm Limited, 1 Roundwood Avenue, Stockley Park, Uxbridge, UB11 1AF, UK
WWW
http://www.aurobindo.com
Telephone
+ 44 (0)208 845 8811
Medical Information e-mail
[email protected]
Customer Care direct line
+44 (0)208 845 8811
Medical Information Fax
+44 (0)208 845 8795