Antiviral agents come in several varieties. Some are effective for influenza and SARS, others help against viral hepatitis and chickenpox. No less popular are compounds that cope with herpes. As you know, this infection lives in the body of 98% of the people living on the planet. The disease is transmitted through sexual contact, as well as from mother to child during natural birth. Herpes worsens with a decrease in immunity. Doctors often prescribe “Zovirax” to fight this infection. The price of this medicine, according to consumers, is quite high. Patients seek to find an equally effective medicine with a more affordable cost. Today’s article will tell you about such drugs and their features.
Description of the drug "Zovirax"
The medication is available in several dosage forms. In the pharmacy you can buy cream for external use or tablets. The first type of drug is used more often. How much does Zovirax ointment cost? The price for a 5-gram tube is about 250 rubles. Customer reviews say it is quite expensive. Nevertheless, this medication is recognized as effective and is very popular. The active substance of Zovirax is acyclovir. The drug is effective against herpes virus of the first and second type. It also eliminates the Epshetain-Barr virus and cytomegalovirus infection.
The medication can be used on the skin and mucous membranes. Tablets are taken orally. Use the medicine should be no more than 10 days in a row. If after this period the symptoms persist, consult a doctor. Often, consumers tend to find cheap analogues of Zovirax. Make it easy. You can replace the drug with any medicine based on acyclovir. Consider the most popular of them.
"Acyclovir" ointment: price, description
This drug has the same active substance in its composition. It is an absolute analogue of Zovirax cream. Pay attention to the fact that the price of “Acyclovir” (ointment) is only 30-50 rubles. For this amount you will get a 10-gram tube, which is two times more than the expensive "Zovirax". It turns out that buying a domestic medicine is much more profitable.
This medicine is used for cold sores of the skin and mucous membranes. It can also be used for genital localization of a viral infection, herpetic keratitis. But, unlike the expensive predecessor, this medicine can not be used during pregnancy. If the future mother is faced with the question of choosing a drug ("Zovirax" or "Acyclovir"), then it is definitely worth giving preference to even a more expensive, but safe medication.
Herpes: ointment for herpes
Cheap analogues of Zovirax are sold in every pharmacy chain. One such remedy is Herperax ointment. The cost of a tube of 5 grams is 80-100 rubles. The medicine is produced by an Indian pharmaceutical company. It is indicated to apply the ointment in the same situations as Zovirax. But the Herperx medication should not be used to treat children under 18 years of age. Doctors say that such a restriction was introduced due to the lack of clinical studies among the younger age group.
Instructions for use warns that this analogue of an antiviral medication should not be applied to the mucous membranes and eyes. A medication can cause burning and peeling of the skin. Reviews of pharmacists say that this ointment does not have such popularity as its predecessors. But it has the same effect on the patient’s body.
“Acic Ophthal”: a medicine that is difficult to obtain
This medicine is available in the form of an ointment. It is applied to the face and mucous surfaces. The medication can also be used to treat herpes infections of the eyes. It is known that the same acyclovir is part of the medicine. The cost of an ointment of 2 grams is about 100 rubles. According to customer reviews, the medicine is hard to find in pharmacies in Russia, but it is actively sold in Ukraine.
This composition is contraindicated in children under 12 years of age and pregnant women. If therapy is necessary during breastfeeding, the question of its termination is decided. The medicine is used for 10 days. It can cause adverse reactions: burning, pain in the eyes, glaucoma. If they occur, you need to urgently consult a doctor.
"Cyclovir": tablets and ointment
You can choose cheap analogues of "Zovirax" with the trade name "Cyclovir". So, 10 tablets (200 milligrams of acyclovir each) cost no more than 30 rubles. According to consumers, treatment with this drug is very cheap. Because of this, people often give him preference. The medicine refers to antiviral, antiherpetic agents. It is prescribed for herpes of different localization: on the face, genitals, lips and mucous membranes. Contraindication to therapy is only hypersensitivity. It is also not recommended to use tablets for the treatment of newborns.
Summarize
So, you have learned about what there are cheap analogues of Zovirax. You should not choose an alternative yourself. If you cannot purchase the original medicine prescribed by your doctor, then ask for help in selecting a substitute. Remember that all funds have their advantages and disadvantages. Statistics and consumer reviews show that the most popular drug replacing Zovirax is Acyclovir. It has a reasonable price. But this medication is prohibited during pregnancy, and after all, expectant mothers so often have a herpes infection against the background of a decrease in immunity.
Doctors say that children often have to be prescribed such drugs. This is necessary for chickenpox or shingles. The sooner you start treatment, the sooner you will achieve a positive result. But remember that drugs such as Atzik and Herperax are contraindicated in young children. If during the week of treatment with the original Zovirax or its low-cost analogues you have not felt better, you need to see a doctor. You will probably need to adjust your appointments. Have a good health!