Buy aciclovir online

You can buy aciclovir online by completing a short medical questionnaire. One of our pharmacists will screen the answers, to make sure that treatment is safe for you to take. All purchases are shipped from our UK pharmacy, with next-day delivery options available.

Aciclovir Prices

Name & Dosage	x15 Tablets	x25 Tablets	x30 Tablets	x45 Tablets	x50 Tablets	x75 Tablets	x180 Tablets
Aciclovir 200mg Tablets		£9.89			£19.49	£23.89
Aciclovir 400mg Tablets	£9.89		£19.49	£23.89			£43.95

Summary For Aciclovir Tablets 400mg

Medication class	Oral antiviral
Mechanism of action	Stops the virus from replicating, reducing symptoms
Active ingredient	Aciclovir
Strength	400mg
Effective within	24-48 hours
Dosage instructions	One tablet three times a day (outbreak treatment) One tablet twice a day (suppression treatment)
Manufacturer	Actavis, Ranbaxy, Crescent, Wockhardt, Milpharm, Teva
Use with alcohol	In moderation

About aciclovir tablets

Key points What is aciclovir used for? How does aciclovir work? How to take aciclovir tablets Aciclovir ingredients Can you drink alcohol with aciclovir tablets? Aciclovir alternatives

Key points

Aciclovir is an antiviral treatment, available on prescription only
To treat a genital herpes outbreak, take aciclovir 400mg three times a day for 5 days
To reduce the number of outbreaks, take aciclovir 400mg two times a day long-term
It can take 1-2 days for aciclovir to start working

What is aciclovir used for?

Aciclovir is an antiviral medication, used to treat infections which are caused by the herpes virus. These include:

Genital herpes
Cold sores
Shingles
Chickenpox
Eye infections

Genital herpes

Genital herpes is an infection caused by the herpes simplex virus. It causes sores to develop around the vagina, or the penis. Sores can also develop around the thighs and anus. Not all sores around the genitals are herpes, and you should get testes for herpes, before using treatment.

Aciclovir can be used to reduce the length and severity of an outbreak.

Aciclovir tablets can also be taken long-term, to reduce the number of outbreaks in those that experience herpes outbreaks on a regular basis.

How does aciclovir work?

Aciclovir works by changing the DNA of the herpes simplex virus, so that virus is unable to multiply and infect more cells. This allows the immune system to bring the virus under control, resulting in fewer and milder symptoms that disappear faster than they would without treatment.

Important note: aciclovir is not a cure for infections, but rather can help sores to heal faster and prevent new sores from developing. Treatment can also be effective in reducing pain and itching after sores have healed, reducing the risk of the virus spreading to different parts of the body.

How to take aciclovir tablets

You should take one tablet with a glass of water, spacing your doses evenly throughout the day. If you have trouble swallowing tablets, you can disperse tablets in water.
If you take aciclovir three times a day, you should space the doses evenly, taking one tablet in the morning, afternoon, and evening.
If you take aciclovir twice daily, you should take one tablet in the morning, and one in the evening.
If you miss a dose of aciclovir, you should take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is nearly time for the next dose, take the dose at the set time, rather than taking a double dose.
You should continue using the treatment until you have completed the course, even if you are feeling better after a few days of taking the medication. Treatment for an outbreak will usually last five days, whilst treatment for genital herpes suppression is ongoing.
It is important to drink plenty of water, to avoid dehydration. This will ensure that less stress is placed on your kidneys, avoiding any potential side effects and damage to kidneys.

Aciclovir ingredients

Active ingredients: Aciclovir 400mg

Inactive ingredients: Magnesium stearate, colloidal anhydrous silica, sodium starch glycollate, polyvidone, E172 and E460

Important note: Whilst the active ingredient will always remain the same, different manufacturers may use alternative inactive ingredients. This will not impact the effectiveness of treatment.

Can you drink alcohol with aciclovir tablets?

There is no direct interaction between aciclovir and alcohol, so you can drink in moderation whilst using treatment. However, if you are experiencing side effects, limit your consumption, as alcohol may intensify side effects of aciclovir, such as headaches, nausea, dizziness, and sleepiness.

Excess alcohol can reduce the function of your immune system. To get the most out of your treatment, alcohol consumption should be limited.

Aciclovir alternatives

Aciclovir vs valaciclovir

According to clinical studies, both aciclovir and valaciclovir have similar results
To treat an outbreak, aciclovir is taken three times a day, whereas valaciclovir is taken two times a day
For suppression therapy, aciclovir is taken two times a day and valaciclovir is taken once a day
Aciclovir is cheaper than valaciclovir

Aciclovir tablets vs aciclovir cream

Both aciclovir tablets and aciclovir cream can be used to treat cold sores
Aciclovir tablets can be used to treat genital herpes, whereas aciclovir cream is not licensed as a genital herpes treatment
Aciclovir tablets are more effective than the cream

Aciclovir Dosage Instructions

Genital herpes outbreak dose

Take one aciclovir 400mg tablet, three times a day for 5 days

Genital herpes suppression dose

Take one aciclovir 400mg tablet, two times a day. You should review your treatment after 6-12 months to see if the number of outbreaks has reduced.

Important note: Spread the dose evenly throughout the course of the day.

Aciclovir Side Effects

Side effects are usually mild and disappear as you adjust to taking the medication.

Side effects of aciclovir tablets include:

Common (affecting up to 10% of users):

Dizziness
Headache
Nausea
Diarrhoea
Stomach ache
Skin sensitivity after light exposure
Itchiness
Fatigue
High temperature
Feeling faint

Uncommon (affecting up to 1% of users):

Hair loss

For a full list of side effects, refer to the patient information leaflet.

Stop taking aciclovir tablets and seek urgent medical attention if you experience signs of an allergic reaction such as:

Rash or very itchy skin
Swelling of the face, mouth, lips, tongue, eyes, throat, or any other part of your body
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Collapse

Always report any side effects to your doctor or pharmacist.

Aciclovir Warnings

You should not take aciclovir if you:

Are over 65 years of age
You have kidney problems
You have a condition that affect the immune system such as HIV
You have a condition which affects the nervous system
You have any allergies to aciclovir or its ingredients

Aciclovir Interactions

You should avoid the following medication when taking aciclovir:

Cimetidine – used to treat stomach ulcers
Probenecid – used to treat gout
Mycophenolate mofetil – used to stop the body rejecting an organ after a transplant
Theophylline and aminophylline – used to treat asthma and breathing conditions

Important note: Always inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking medication, so that they can check for interactions.

Aciclovir and Pregnancy/Breastfeeding

It is safe to take aciclovir tablets during pregnancy, but this should be done under the supervision of your doctor. It can be advised to take aciclovir four weeks before birth to prevent a genital herpes outbreak. This is to prevent the infection from being spread during birth.

If you have herpes and are pregnant, the risk of passing it onto your baby is very low, however, you should make your doctor aware so that you can discuss your options.

A small amount of aciclovir is present in breastmilk, and you should avoid taking it unless the benefits outweigh the risks.

You may still be eligible to use treatment, however, this is done under the supervision of your doctor.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, you cannot buy aciclovir tablets over the counter. You will need a prescription to buy aciclovir in the UK.

You can order aciclovir online from a registered pharmacy, such as Chemist Click. A pharmacist will assess your suitability through an online consultation and generate a prescription in-house if it is safe to do so. Your medication will be dispensed and dispatched to you in plain and discrete packaging.

Aciclovir cream is only licensed to treat cold sores (oral herpes), but not genital herpes.

Yes, aciclovir can be taken to treat shingles. The dose of aciclovir used to treat shingles is different to the dose used to treat genital herpes.

It can take 1-2 days for aciclovir tablets to work.

Yes, aciclovir is available on the NHS.

Yes, painkillers such as ibuprofen and paracetamol are safe to take alongside aciclovir tablets.

Yes, aciclovir is available in liquid form, however, it is more expensive than the tablets. Many forms of aciclovir tablets are dispersible.

Yes, but it is important to remember that it is still possible to pass the infection on to others. The chances of transmitting herpes to somebody else increases during an outbreak.

If you experience less than six outbreaks a year, your best option would be to use aciclovir each time you have an outbreak.

If you experience six or more episodes of genital herpes a year, you may wish to think about taking aciclovir as suppression therapy. This can reduce the number of outbreaks.

If you are experiencing less than six outbreaks a year, but you feel as though herpes is negatively affecting your mental health, you should speak to your doctor or pharmacist about using suppression therapy.

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Authored By

Abbas Kanani

Superintendent Pharmacist

Written by Chemist Click

First created 28th April 2025

Last reviewed 7th October 2025

Aciclovir Tablets 400mg