800mg Aciclovir suspension should be taken five times daily at approximately four-hourly intervals, omitting the night time dose. Treatment should continue for seven days.

In severely immunocompromised patients (e.g. after marrow transplant) or in patients with impaired absorption from the gut, consideration should be given to intravenous dosing.

Dosing should begin as early as possible after the start of an infection: treatment of herpes zoster yields better results if initiated as soon as possible after the onset of the rash. Treatment of chickenpox in immunocompetent patients should begin within 24 hours after onset of the rash.

Dosage in Children

Treatment of herpes simplex infections, and prophylaxis of herpes simplex infections in the immunocompromised:

Children aged two years and over should be given adult dosages and children below the age of two years should be given half the adult dose.

For treatment of neonatal herpes virus infections, intravenous aciclovir is recommended.

Treatment of varicella infections:

6 years and over: 800mg Aciclovir suspension four times daily.

2 to 5 years: 400mg Aciclovir suspension four times daily.

Under 2 years: 200mg Aciclovir suspension four times daily.

Treatment should continue for five days.

Dosing may be more accurately calculated as 20mg/kg body weight (not to exceed 800mg) Aciclovir suspension four times daily.

No specific data are available on the suppression of herpes simplex infections or the treatment of herpes zoster infections in immunocompetent children.

Dosage in the Elderly

The possibility of renal impairment in the elderly must be considered and the dosage should be adjusted accordingly (see 'Dosage in Renal Impairment' below).

Adequate hydration of elderly patients taking high oral doses of aciclovir should be maintained.

Dosage in Renal Impairment

Caution is advised when administering aciclovir to patients with impaired renal function. Adequate hydration should be maintained.

In the management of herpes simplex infections in patients with severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance less than 10 ml/minute) an adjustment of dosage to 200mg aciclovir twice daily at approximately twelve-hourly intervals is recommended.

In the treatment of varicella and herpes zoster infections it is recommended to adjust the dosage to 800mg aciclovir twice daily at approximately twelve-hourly intervals for patients with severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance less than 10ml/minute), and to 800mg aciclovir three times daily at intervals of approximately eight hours for patients with moderate renal impairment (creatinine clearance in the range 10 to 25ml/minute).

Method of administration

For oral use only.
4.3 Contraindications
Aciclovir Suspension is contra-indicated in patients known to be hypersensitive to aciclovir or valaciclovir, or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1.
4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use
Use in patients with renal impairment and in elderly patients:

Aciclovir is eliminated by renal clearance, therefore the dose must be adjusted in patients with renal impairment (see 4.2 Posology and Method of Administration) Elderly patients are likely to have reduced renal function and therefore the need for dose adjustment must be considered in this group of patients. Both elderly p