ACICLOVIR ALFA*CREAM 5% 3G

Aciclovir Alfasigma 5% Cream
Aciclovir

What it is and what it is used for
Aciclovir Alfasigma 5% cream contains the active ingredient acyclovir and is a medicine belonging to the family of antivirals, chemotherapeutics for cutaneous use. Aciclovir acts against herpes viruses.
Herpes is an infectious and contagious disease caused by the Herpesviridae genus virus, responsible for infections that manifest as skin lesions and vesicles localized in various parts of the body.

Aciclovir Alfasigma 5% cream is indicated in the treatment of herpes simplex skin infections, which manifest with the appearance of painful, reddish, rounded lesions and vesicles predominantly localized on the lips (herpes labialis) or infections that appear for the first time or following relapses (recurrent infections) of the genitals (primary or recurrent genital herpes).

What you need to know before taking the medicine
Do not use Aciclovir Alfasigma
- if you are allergic to the active ingredient acyclovir or valaciclovir, or to any of the other components of this medicine (listed in section 6).

Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using Aciclovir Alfasigma.
Take particular care when using the cream, to avoid accidental application to the eyes.
Do not apply Aciclovir Alfasigma to the soft tissues (mucous membranes) of the mouth, eyes and vagina as this could cause irritation.
The use, especially if prolonged, of Aciclovir Alfasigma can lead to allergic reactions (sensitization phenomena). If this occurs, stop treatment and consult your doctor.
Inform your doctor before using this medicine if you have a severely compromised immune system (immunocompromised), e.g., if you have AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) or if you have undergone a bone marrow transplant. In this case, your doctor will evaluate the possibility of prescribing acyclovir in oral form (tablets).

Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Due to the nature of the side effects that have been reported, it is not possible to establish with certainty which of these is related to the administration of Aciclovir Alfasigma and which is related to the disease.

Stop treatment with Aciclovir Alfasigma and contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following side effects:

Rare side effects (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)
- allergic reactions (immediate hypersensitivity reactions) including skin swelling (angioedema) and skin rashes (urticaria).

Other side effects are listed by frequency:

Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
- short-term burning or pain after applying the cream;
- moderate dryness and shedding of the upper layer of the skin (desquamation);
- itching.

Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)
- skin irritation (erythema);
- inflammatory skin reaction after application (contact dermatitis), potentially caused by other components of Aciclovir Alfasigma.

Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, including any not listed in this leaflet, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. You can also report side effects directly via the national reporting system at: https://www.aifa.gov.it/content/segnalazionireazioni-avverse.
By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.