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Short answer Side effects of acyclovir topical: what to do Common questions Related questions SourcesMost side effects of topical acyclovir are mild and stay in the skin where you apply it, such as dryness, flaking, brief stinging or burning, tingling, and mild itching or redness.
Which effects you notice depends on the form: the 5% cream is more likely to dry or flake the skin, while the 5% ointment tends to sting on contact, especially on broken skin or mucous membranes. Very little acyclovir is absorbed through the skin, so body-wide effects like headache or nausea are uncommon with the topical product compared with the pills. Applying a thin layer with a clean fingertip or a glove, letting it dry before covering the area, and washing your hands after each dose keeps irritation and spread down. If the burning is strong enough that you want to skip doses, that is worth a conversation, because the medicine works best when started early and used on schedule. Swelling, hives, or trouble breathing are not typical irritation and need urgent care.
Side effects of acyclovir topical: what to do
Common questions
What are the side effects of Acyclovir Topical?
Topical acyclovir causes mostly local, mild reactions. The cream commonly leads to dry or flaking skin, a brief burning or stinging feeling, tingling, and mild itching or redness where you apply it. The ointment more often stings on contact, especially on broken skin or mucous membranes. These usually fade within minutes and do not mean you should stop treatment. Because very little drug enters the bloodstream, headache, nausea, and other body-wide effects are uncommon. Get care if you develop hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue, a spreading rash, or increasing pain, pus, or fever, which can point to an allergy or a bacterial skin infection.