Zovirax Caution For Usage

Instructions For Use/Handling: Powd for infusion: Reconstitution: The required dose of Acyclovir (Zovirax) IV for infusion should be administered by slow IV infusion over a one-hour period. Acyclovir (Zovirax) IV for infusion should be reconstituted using the following volumes of either Water for Injections BP or Sodium Chloride Injection BP (0.9% w/v) to provide a solution containing 25 mg Acyclovir (Zovirax) per mL: See Table 3.

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From the calculated dose, determine the appropriate number and strength of vials to be used. To reconstitute each vial, add the recommended volume of infusion fluid and shake gently until the contents of the vial have dissolved completely. After reconstitution Acyclovir (Zovirax) IV for infusion may be administered by a controlled-rate infusion pump.
Alternatively, the reconstituted solution may be further diluted to give an Acyclovir (Zovirax) concentration of not greater than 5 mg/mL (0.5% w/v) for administration by infusion: Add the required volume of reconstituted solution to the chosen infusion solution, as recommended as follows, and shake well to ensure adequate mixing occurs.
For children and neonates, where it is advisable to keep the volume of infusion fluid to a minimum, it is recommended that dilution is on the basis of 4 mL reconstituted solution (100 mg Acyclovir (Zovirax)) added to 20 mL of infusion fluid.
For adults, it is recommended that infusion bags containing 100 mL of infusion fluid are used, even when this would give an Acyclovir (Zovirax) concentration substantially below 0.5% w/v. Thus one 100 mL infusion bag may be used for any dose between 250 mg and 500 mg Acyclovir (Zovirax) (10 and 20 mL of reconstituted solution) but a second bag must be used for doses between 500 and 1000 mg.
When diluted in accordance with the recommended schedules, Acyclovir (Zovirax) IV for infusion is known to be compatible with the following infusion fluids and stable for up to 12 hours at room temperature (15°C to 25°C): Sodium Chloride Intravenous Infusion BP (0.45% and 0.9% w/v); Sodium Chloride (0.18% w/v) and Glucose (4% w/v) Intravenous Infusion BP; Sodium Chloride (0.45% w/v) and Glucose (2.5% w/v) Intravenous Infusion BP; Compound Sodium Lactate Intravenous Infusion BP (Hartmann's Solution).
Acyclovir (Zovirax) IV for infusion when diluted in accordance with the previously mentioned schedule will give an Acyclovir (Zovirax) concentration not greater than 0.5% w/v.
When reconstituted as directed, Acyclovir (Zovirax) IV for infusion has a pH of approximately 11.
Since no antimicrobial preservative is included, reconstitution and dilution must be carried out under full aseptic conditions, immediately before use, and any unused solution discarded. Reconstituted or diluted solutions should not be refrigerated.
Should any visible turbidity or crystallisation appear in the solution before or during infusion, the preparation should be discarded.