Acyclovir Ointment Dosing

For the treatment of cold sores or genital herpes, acyclovir ointment dosing is the same, regardless of your age, weight, or other medical conditions. Dosing guidelines typically recommend applying a sufficient amount of the ointment to all lesions on the lips or genitals, six times a day, for seven days. Your acyclovir ointment dose should not be ingested.

Acyclovir (Zovirax) Ointment

Acyclovir Ointment Dosing: An Introduction

There is only one standard recommended dosage for acyclovir ointment (Zovirax^® ointment), regardless of your age, weight, or other medical conditions.

As is always the case, do not adjust your acyclovir ointment dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.

Acyclovir Ointment Dosing for Cold Sores or Genital Herpes

The recommended acyclovir ointment dosage is a sufficient amount to cover all lesions, applied six times a day (about every three hours during the day) for seven days. Approximately a half-inch ribbon of acyclovir ointment squeezed from the tube should cover about four square inches of skin.

General Information on Dosing With Acyclovir Ointment

Considerations for people taking acyclovir ointment include the following:

The medication is to be used on the skin (including the lips and genitals); it is not meant to be ingested.
You should use disposable rubber, latex, or similar gloves to apply acyclovir ointment in order to prevent spreading the infection to other parts of your body.
For the medication to work properly, it must be taken as prescribed. Make sure to take acyclovir ointment as directed by your healthcare provider.