Aciclovir (spelled acyclovir in American texts - same medicine) is an antiviral for the herpes family of viruses: the ones behind cold sores, genital herpes, shingles and chickenpox. It works by blocking the virus's ability to copy itself inside infected cells, which shortens an outbreak and makes it milder. It does not kill the virus outright - herpes viruses stay dormant in the body between outbreaks, and no tablet removes them - so aciclovir is the medicine for treating outbreaks and preventing them, not a one-time cure.
In the NAFDAC register
14 registered products
from 10 registration holders
What it costs online
Price varies — check with a pharmacy. This drug has not yet appeared in our fortnightly sampling of Nigerian online pharmacies.
Brands of Aciclovir in Nigeria
Comes as
- Cream5%· 5 makers
Those 14 products from 10 registration holders include combination products and older listings; below are the most common brands.
Aciclovir Price in Nigeria
Our sampled online listings held no stable aciclovir price this cycle, so we quote none. It sells as tablet packs (200-800 mg) and small 5-20 g tubes of 5% cream, and price varies widely by brand and strength - Emzor's tablets are made in Nigeria, most creams are imported. Ask a licensed pharmacy for the current price, and check the pack's NAFDAC registration number before paying.
We show a price here once it appears in our monthly sampling of Nigerian online pharmacies (MedPlus, HealthPlus), or when we have a reliable market figure. For now, confirm the current price directly with a licensed pharmacy.
How to Verify Your Aciclovir is Genuine
- 1Check the pack for the NAFDAC registration number - Emzor Aciclovir 400 carries A11-100345 and the 800 mg carries A11-100346, both printed on the carton
- 2Enter the number in our free NAFDAC checker and confirm it matches the product and company on the pack
- 3Creams come in small 5-20 g tubes from registered brands like Virest (04-4464) and Norbarc (A4-100743) - a tube with no NAFDAC number on the carton cannot be verified
- 4Imported 'Zovirax' with no NAFDAC number is unverifiable here - our copy of the register shows no active Zovirax registration, so the registered generics above are what a legitimate pharmacy shelf holds
Where to Buy
Buying Aciclovir by the carton
Cartons are bought at Nigeria's four open drug markets. Each guide names the sellers there you can contact, and how to buy safely:
No shop we list has Aciclovir on its confirmed product list yet — the market guides still tell you where the trade happens and how to buy there safely.
Wherever you buy, buy only from licensed pharmacies and verified distributors — not roadside vendors — and verify the pack's NAFDAC registration before you pay. Buying Aciclovir in bulk or for resale? See how to buy medicines in bulk in Nigeria safely.
Need Aciclovir in bulk, or can't find it near you?
Tell us what you need and we'll connect you with a verified, NAFDAC-registered source.
What is Aciclovir?
Timing decides how well it works. Started at the first tingle of a cold sore, or within 72 hours of a shingles rash appearing, it can cut days off an outbreak; started late, it does much less. That is worth knowing before the pharmacy trip, not after.
In Nigeria it is registered as tablets (Emzor makes 400 mg and 800 mg locally; Bafnacare 200 mg and 400 mg are imported), as 5% skin creams from several companies, and as a 3% eye ointment (Acyvir). Our copy of the NAFDAC register shows no aciclovir syrup, suspension or injection registered - the IV form used for severe hospital cases is not on the Nigerian register at all.
What is Aciclovir used for?
In Nigeria, Aciclovir is commonly used for:
- Cold sores on the lips and face - cream applied at the first tingle, or tablets for frequent or severe outbreaks
- Genital herpes - first episodes, recurrences, and daily suppressive treatment when outbreaks are frequent
- Shingles (herpes zoster), started within 72 hours of the rash
- Chickenpox in adults, teenagers and people at higher risk of complications
- Herpes simplex eye infection - the eye ointment, under specialist care
Dosage
IMPORTANT
Always follow your doctor's or pharmacist's instructions. The information below is for general reference only.
Adults
Depends entirely on what is being treated, so follow the prescription: typical courses run from 200-400 mg several times a day for 5-7 days (genital herpes) up to 800 mg five times a day for 7 days (shingles). The cream is applied five times a day for 5-10 days, starting at the first tingle. Doses are spread across the waking day - aciclovir leaves the body quickly, and the spacing is what keeps the virus suppressed.
Children
Used for chickenpox and herpes infections on a doctor's advice, with the dose set by age and weight. With no syrup or suspension registered in Nigeria, young children's doses have to be managed by the doctor - do not improvise by breaking adult tablets without being told to.
Elderly
Shingles is the common reason older adults need aciclovir, and speed matters most - the 72-hour window from rash to first dose is what protects against lingering nerve pain. Older kidneys clear the drug more slowly, so doctors may adjust the dose; drinking enough water through the course matters more at this age.
Start as early in the outbreak as possible. Drink plenty of water through a tablet course - aciclovir can crystallise in dehydrated kidneys at high doses. Finish the course even when the sores crust early.
Side Effects
Common side effects
- •Nausea or vomiting
- •Headache
- •Diarrhoea
- •Dizziness or tiredness
- •Cream: brief stinging or burning where applied
Serious side effects — seek medical help immediately
- Signs of kidney trouble on tablet courses - passing much less urine, flank pain - especially if dehydrated
- Confusion, hallucination or unusual drowsiness, mostly in older people or those with kidney problems
- Allergic reaction: spreading rash, swelling of the face or throat, difficulty breathing
When to see a doctor
Go straight to a doctor if shingles involves the face or eye, if you are pregnant and have a genital herpes outbreak near your due date, if sores keep coming back many times a year (daily suppression is worth discussing), or if you have HIV or another reason for weak immunity - herpes infections run harder and longer then, and the doses differ.
Warnings & Precautions
Do not take Aciclovir if you have:
- Known allergy to aciclovir or valaciclovir
Drug interactions
- •Probenecid and cimetidine can raise aciclovir levels
- •Other drugs that stress the kidneys - including the NSAID painkillers (diclofenac, ibuprofen) many people take daily - add to the kidney load on high-dose courses
- •Tenofovir-containing HIV treatment: tell your doctor, as both are cleared by the kidneys
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Aciclovir has decades of use in pregnancy without a pattern of harm and is commonly prescribed when genital herpes needs treating before delivery - but that call belongs to a doctor, especially near term. Small amounts pass into breast milk; normal doses are generally considered compatible with breastfeeding on a pharmacist's or doctor's advice.
Related Resources for Aciclovir
Guides, articles, and tools related to Aciclovir and other antivirals medicines in Nigeria.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
- •NAFDAC Greenbook — the official database of all products registered with Nigeria's National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control. Brand-level NAFDAC numbers for Aciclovir on this page were cross-referenced against the Greenbook.
- •WHO Model List of Essential Medicines — Aciclovir is included in the WHO's list of essential medicines, meaning it is considered essential for basic healthcare needs.
- •British National Formulary (BNF) dosing and interaction guidance for Aciclovir.
- •Nigerian Standard Treatment Guidelines (Federal Ministry of Health).
Daily puzzle: Meddle — pair five brands with their medicines. New game at midnight.