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Medovir
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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Indications Medovira
It is used to treat infections caused by the activity of the herpes simplex virus in people with immunodeficiency, as well as severe forms of genital herpes in people without immunodeficiency.
It is prescribed to prevent the occurrence of infections caused by common herpes in people with immunodeficiency.
In addition, the drug is used for infections caused by varicella-zoster and for herpes-related encephalitis.
It can also be used to treat infections caused by common herpes in newborns.
The cream is used externally - for common herpes affecting the mucous membranes and epidermis, genital herpes (relapse or primary). As an auxiliary agent, it is used for the localized form of shingles.
Eye ointment is prescribed for herpetic keratitis.
Release form
The product is released as a lyophilisate for infusion fluid. Each bottle contains 0.25 g of acyclovir (sodium salt). The volume of the glass bottle itself is also 0.25 g. There are 10 such bottles inside the box.
It is also produced in tablets of 0.4 or 0.8 g, 10 pieces inside a blister pack. The pack contains 1 such package.
The medication is also sold in the form of a 5% cream, in 5 g tubes.
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Pharmacodynamics
Thymidine kinase of the cells that have been infected by the virus actively transforms acyclovir by several successive processes into monophosphate, as well as 2- and 3-phosphate of acyclovir. The latter element interacts with the DNA polymerase of the virus, after which it is incorporated into the structure of DNA synthesized to form new viruses. As a result, the DNA of the virus acquires a "defective" part, due to which the replication of new viruses is suppressed.
Acyclovir demonstrates activity against herpes simplex viruses types 1 and 2, as well as varicella-zoster, cytomegalovirus and EBV.
Pharmacokinetics
After oral administration, the bioavailability of the drug is 15-30%. The drug is distributed throughout many fluids and tissues of the body. Protein synthesis within the plasma is within 9-33%.
Metabolic processes occur inside the liver. The half-life after oral administration is 3.3 hours, and after intravenous injection - 2.5 hours.
Excretion occurs mainly with urine, only a small portion of the drug is excreted with feces.
Dosing and administration
Orally (for a child over 2 years of age or an adult), 0.2-0.4 g of the drug is taken 3-5 times a day. If necessary, take 20 mg/kg (up to 0.8 g per dose) 4 times a day. Children under 2 years of age are prescribed a portion equal to half of an adult's. The duration of such a cycle is 5-10 days. If the patient has renal insufficiency, the dosage regimen should be adjusted.
The drug is administered intravenously to adolescents starting from the age of 12 and to adults – in doses of 5-10 mg/kg, with intervals between injections equal to 8 hours. For children under 12 years of age (starting from the age of 3 months), a solution in a portion of 0.25-0.5 g/m2 should be used , and the interval between procedures is also 8 hours. Newborns are administered 10 mg/kg of the substance with the same interval.
Externally and locally, the drug is used 5 times a day. The duration of the treatment cycle and the portion size are determined by the indications and the medicinal form of the drug.
The maximum permissible daily dose of Medovir for intravenous administration to adults is 30 mg/kg.
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Use Medovira during pregnancy
Pregnant women should use acyclovir only in situations where the benefit to the woman is considered to be greater than the risk of complications to the fetus.
Medovir should not be administered intravenously during breastfeeding (because it is excreted in the mother's milk).
Contraindications
It is contraindicated to use the medication in case of intolerance to valacyclovir and acyclovir.
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Side effects Medovira
The use of the drug may cause some side effects:
- after oral use: vomiting, abdominal pain, dizziness, diarrhea, nausea, as well as epidermal rashes and headaches, as well as hallucinations, a feeling of severe fatigue, fever, insomnia or a feeling of drowsiness and impaired concentration. Rarely, alopecia, leukopenia, lymphocyto- or erythropenia develop, as well as a temporary increase in blood urea, bilirubin and creatinine values, as well as liver enzyme activity;
- after intravenous injection: crystalluria, vomiting, acute renal failure, nausea, inflammation or phlebitis at the injection site, as well as encephalopathy (hallucinations, convulsions, agitation, a feeling of drowsiness or confusion appear; psychosis, tremors or coma develop);
- after local use: burning sensation at the site of application, blepharitis, punctate superficial keratitis, and conjunctivitis;
- after external treatment: peeling, burning, itching, rashes, dry skin and erythema may occur in the application area. If the medicine gets on the mucous membranes, they become inflamed.
Interactions with other drugs
After combined use with probenecid, the excretion of acyclovir through the tubules is weakened, due to which its plasma values and half-life are increased.
Combination of the drug with nephrotoxic drugs increases the likelihood of nephrotoxic effects (especially in people with kidney problems).
Potentiation of the effect of acyclovir is observed when combined with immunostimulants.
When mixing different solutions, it should be remembered that acyclovir, when administered intravenously, exhibits an alkaline reaction (pH value – 11).
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Storage conditions
Medovir should be kept in a place closed to children. The temperature level is a maximum of 25°C. The lyophilisate should be diluted before the injection procedure, because it does not contain preservatives. Any unused liquid should be destroyed. The diluted substance continues to retain its active properties for the next 12 hours at a temperature of 25°C. The prepared solution should not be placed in the refrigerator.
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Shelf life
Medovir in the form of cream or lyophilisate can be used within 36 months from the date of manufacture of the drug. The shelf life of the tablets is 5 years.
Analogues
The drug's analogues are Acyclovir, Virolex with Biocyclovir and Acyclomax, as well as Geviran, Acyclostad, Zovirax and Herpevir.
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Attention!
To simplify the perception of information, this instruction for use of the drug "Medovir" translated and presented in a special form on the basis of the official instructions for medical use of the drug. Before use read the annotation that came directly to medicines.
Description provided for informational purposes and is not a guide to self-healing. The need for this drug, the purpose of the treatment regimen, methods and dose of the drug is determined solely by the attending physician. Self-medication is dangerous for your health.