Acyclovir Dosing for Herpes Zoster

Intravenous Therapy for Severe Disease

• For severe disease, complications, or hospitalized patients, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends acyclovir 5-10 mg/kg IV every 8 hours for 5-7 days or until clinical improvement 1

Special Populations

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that immunocompromised patients require more aggressive therapy with higher doses or IV administration, and may need suppressive therapy with acyclovir 400 mg orally 3-5 times daily 1, 2

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises against using topical acyclovir for herpes zoster, as it is substantially less effective than oral therapy, and notes that acyclovir does not eradicate latent virus and does not prevent future recurrences 2