Side Effects:

Common Headache, Nausea, Vomiting, Rash, Dizziness, Diarrhoea, Itching, Photosensitivity.

Expert advice for Zimivir Tablet
Always take the complete course of treatment, as advised by your doctor even if you feel better. Drink plenty of water while on treatment with Zimivir. This helps to prevent kidney stone and kidney damage. Inform your doctor if you have ever been diagnosed with kidney or liver problems. A dose of your medicine may need to be adjusted. You should not have sex if you have genital sores or blisters. If you're taking Zimivir for herpes, you should use barrier methods (condoms) when you're having sex since you can still pass it on to other people, even if you're taking the medication. Inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to conceive or breastfeeding.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Can I use Zimivir to prevent transmission?
Yes. Zimivir can be used to prevent transmission. It causes reduction of Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) transmission from patient with recurrent infection to uninfected individuals.

Q. Is Zimivir a penicillin?
No. Zimivir is not a penicillin. Penicillins are a group of antibiotics used against many bacterial infections. Zimivir, on the other hand, is an anti-viral agent.

Q. Can I use Zimivir for acne?
No. Zimivir is not approved for acne. It is used in the treatment of herpes labialis, genital herpes infection and herpes zoster.

Q. What if Zimivir is taken with guaifenesin?
Zimivir has no known interaction with guaifenesin.

Q. Is Zimivir a corticosteroid?
No. Zimivir is not a corticosteroid. It belongs to the anti-viral class of medicines.

Q. Can I use Zimivir for the cold?
No. Zimivir should not be used for cold. It is used in the treatment of herpes labialis, genital herpes infection and herpes zoster.

Q. When Zimivir doesn't work?
Zimivir has the highest efficacy against Herpes Simplex Virus infections and to some extent Varicella Zoster Virus infections. It may also have activity against CMV and EBV. However, it will not work against other viral infections (HIV, HPV, Influenza), bacterial or fungal infections.

Q. Can I use Zimivir for eye herpes?
Yes. Zimivir can be used for the treatment of Herpetic Eye.It has been shown to be as effective as acyclovir in reducing the recurrence of an ocular herpetic disease.

Q. What if Zimivir is taken with antibiotics?
Zimivir has no known major interaction with commonly prescribed antibiotics.

Q. What is the effect of Zimivir in immunocompromised patients?
Zimivir can be used in immunocompromised patients. It may decrease white blood cell counts in immunocompromised patients.

Q. Can we use Zimivir for a cold sore?
Yes. Oral Zimivir can be used for cold sore. Cold sores are caused by herpes simplex virus and occur as groups of painful, fluid-filled blisters. Since cold sores are caused due to a virus, an anti-viral agent like Zimivir is effective in its treatment. It can be taken when the first symptoms (such as burning or itching) appear. It has little effect after the sore develops.

Q. Can I use Zimivir for EBV?
Zimivir is predominantly active against Herpes Simplex Virus, and to a lesser extent Varicella Zoster Virus. It is only of limited efficacy against Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) and Cytomegalovirus.

Q. What is the effect of Zimivir in cancer patients?
Yes, Zimivir can be used in cancer patients, to prevent infection from the herpes virus.

Q. Can I use Zimivir for HPV?
No. Zimivir is not approved for Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Infection. It is used in the treatment of herpes labialis, genital herpes infection and herpes zoster.

Q. Are famciclovir and Zimivir the same?
No. Famciclovir and Zimivir are different medicines. Famciclovir is an inactive form of 'penciclovir' whereas Zimivir is an inactive form of 'Acyclovir'. Both of them can be used to treat adult patients with Herpes Labialis (Cold Sores), Genital Herpes and Herpes Zoster (Shingles).

Q. What if Zimivir is taken with birth control pills?
Zimivir has no known interaction with birth control pills.

Q. When does Zimivir expire?
Expiry date is a date, generally in MM/YYYY mentioned on the back of the blister. You should not use the medicine after the due date. Expired medicines are less effective or risky due to a change in chemical composition or a decrease in strength.

Q. Can I use Zimivir for canker sore?
No. Zimivir is not approved for canker sores. Canker sores are small, shallow ulcers that appear in the mouth and often make eating and talking uncomfortable.

Q. Can I use Zimivir with vitamin C?
Yes. There is no known interaction between vitamin C and Zimivir.

Q. How long does Zimivir take to work?
There is reasonable relief from symptoms in 2 to 3 days. Healing of blisters may take a week or above.

Q. Can I use Zimivir for UTI?
No. Zimivir should not be used for Urinary Tract Infection(UTI). It is used in the treatment of herpes labialis, genital herpes infection and herpes zoster.

Q. What if Zimivir is taken with diphenhydramine?
Zimivir has no known interaction with diphenhydramine.

Q. Is Zimivir a suppressive agent of immune system?
No. Zimivir is not a suppressive agent of the immune system. It can be used in immunocompromised patients.

Q. Can I use Zimivir for HIV?
Yes, Zimivir can be used in HIV-infected individuals if suffering from herpes labialis, genital herpes infection and herpes zoster.

Q. What would be the benefit to taking Zimivir vs acyclovir?
Zimivir is the inactive form of Acyclovir and is converted into Acyclovir in the body. It helps in achieving a higher concentration of Acyclovir in the body which improves its clinical efficacy. It means, Zimivir doses can be taken fewer times every day as compared to acylovir.

Q. What if Zimivir is taken with paracetamol?
Zimivir has no known interaction with paracetamol.

Q. Can I use Zimivir for Hepatitis B?
No. Zimivir is not approved for Hepatitis B. It is used in the treatment of herpes labialis, genital herpes infection and herpes zoster.

Q. What is the use of Zimivir besides herpes?
Besides Oro-genital Herpes and Herpes Zoster (shingles), Zimivir is used for Chicken Pox in patients with weak immune system and in newborns, Herpes virus infection of the eye, suppression of recurrent genital herpes in adults and Cytomegalovirus (CMV) prophylaxis in organ transplant recipients in adults.

Q. Is Zimivir a prodrug?
Yes. Zimivir is a ‘prodrug' or the inactive form of acyclovir that gets converted to acyclovir in the body.

Q. Can I use Zimivir for Hepatitis C?
No. Zimivir is not approved for Hepatitis C. It is used in the treatment of herpes labialis, genital herpes infection and herpes zoster.

Q. Is Zimivir a blood thinner?
No. Valacyclovir is not a blood thinner. It is used in the treatment of herpes labialis, genital herpes infection and herpes zoster.

Q. What if Zimivir is taken with prednisone?
Prednisone being a corticosteroid causes weakening of the immune system and hence caution is required for giving these two drugs together, as it may result in significant immunosuppression. A doctor must be consulted before taking valacyclovir with prednisone.

Q. Can I use Zimivir for the flu?
No. Valacyclovir should not be used for flu (Influenza). It is used in the treatment of herpes labialis, genital herpes infection and herpes zoster.

Q. How is Zimivir different from ganciclovir?
Ganciclovir is more active against Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. Zimivir, on the other hand, is active against Herpes Simplex virus.

Q. What not to take with Zimivir?
The combination of Zimivir with nephrotoxic (kidney damage) medications should be made with caution. This applies to the concomitant use of aminoglycosides, organoplatinum compounds, iodinated contrast media, methotrexate, pentamidine, foscarnet, cyclosporine, and tacrolimus.

Q. When does Zimivir start working?
Many people who take Zimivir notice some relief from symptoms within 2 or 3 days, with the healing of the blisters after about a week.

Q. Can I use Zimivir for fever blisters?
Yes. Fever Blisters is another name for cold sores and is caused by Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV). Zimivir, an anti-viral agent, can be used in the treatment of fever blisters.

Q. What if Zimivir is taken with ciprofloxacin?
Zimivir has no known interaction with the antibiotic ciprofloxacin.

Q. Is Zimivir a cephalosporin?
No. Zimivir is not a cephalosporin (beta-lactam antibiotics). It belongs to an anti-viral class of medicines.

Q. How effective is Zimivir?
Zimivir is considered highly effective for Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) infections. It works best if it is used within 48 hours after the first symptoms of shingles or genital herpes (e.g., pain, burning, or blisters) begin to appear.

Q. Can I use Zimivir to treat a yeast infection?
No. Zimivir is not used in the treatment of yeast (fungal) infection. It is an anti-viral and not an anti-fungal medicine.

Q. What if Zimivir is taken with amoxicillin?
Zimivir has no known interaction with the antibiotic amoxicillin.

Q. Is Zimivir an antibiotic?
No. Zimivir is not an antibiotic. The term "antibiotic" is usually used for agents that kill living organisms. It is an anti-viral medicine.

Q. Why should we take Zimivir with lots of water?
You should drink plenty of water while on treatment with Zimivir. This helps to prevent kidney stone and kidney damage.

Q. Can I use Zimivir to treat a sore throat?
No. Zimivir should not use for the treatment of a sore throat. It is used in the treatment of herpes labialis, genital herpes infection and herpes zoster.

Q. Is Zimivir a narcotic?
No. Valacylovir is not a narcotic. Narcotics are the substance which can cause addiction and dependence.

Q. Can I use Zimivir for HSV 1?
Yes. Zimivir is used for the treatment of Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) - Type I infection.

Q. Is Zimivir used to treat bell palsy?
The use of Zimivir has not been definitively established in Bell's Palsy. Considering the cost-benefit ratio of this treatment, it is recommended that Zimivir should be used in cases of severe palsy within 3 days after the onset of Bell's palsy.

Q. What if Zimivir is taken with ibuprofen?
Zimivir has no known interaction with ibuprofen.

Q. Is Zimivir to get high?
Zimivir use does not cause euphoria. It does not cause addiction.