Herpes simplex

Aciclovir oral 400mg three times daily

In some patients*:

Aciclovir oral 400mg five times daily or consider IV^** administration 5mg/kg 8 hourly

Total course duration: 5 days.

^*Consider higher dose or IV administration if severely immunocompromised or there is reduced enteral absorption.

^**Aciclovir IV:

• Adjust dose if CrCl <50ml/minute. For further details see BNF or Summary of Product Characteristics. Use the CrCl calculator in the GGC Medicines App or on the StaffNet Hub Clinical Info page (NHSGGC network access required), or use the equation here.
• To avoid excessive dosage in obese patients (i.e. when BMI>30kg/m²), calculate the dose on the basis of adjusted body weight (AdjBW) for the patient's height.

AdjBW = ideal body weight + 0.4 x (actual body weight - ideal body weight)

• Please see table 1 here for further guidance on ideal body weight.