gsk Activir Duo 2 gr

Activir Duo contains two active ingredients: aciclovir and hydrocortisone. Aciclovir is a virus inhibitor that helps fight the virus that causes cold sores. Hydrocortisone is a weak steroid that reduces the inflammation associated with cold sores.
Activir Duo Cream is used in adults and adolescents 12 years of age and older to treat the early signs and symptoms (e.g. tingling, itching or redness) of cold sores on the lips and the skin around the lips to reduce the risk reduce the formation of a blister. Even if your cold sore has turned into a blister, Activir Duo will shorten the healing process by approximately half a day to a day compared to the inactive cream.
A cold sore is caused by the so-called herpes simplex virus. The virus causes blisters and sores primarily on the lips but sometimes on other parts of the face. A cold sore can develop when the body's immune system is weakened, e.g. B. if you have a cold or other infection. Stress, strong sunlight, cold temperatures or menstrual bleeding can also trigger a cold sore.

Contraindications

Do not use Activir Duo if you are allergic to aciclovir, valaciclovir, hydrocortisone or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6) and for skin infections other than cold sores.
Only use Activir Duo on affected areas of skin on your lips or the skin around your lips.
Talk to your doctor if you have severe recurring cold sores to make sure you don't have any other health problems.

Do not use Activir Duo:

• in your eyes, in your mouth, in your nose or on your private parts.
• to treat genital herpes.
• if your immune system is not working properly (e.g. if you have had a bone marrow transplant or have AIDS/HIV) or if you have been diagnosed with a weakened immune system.
• with a bandage such as B. a plaster or a cold sore patch.

Wash your hands before and after application to prevent your cold sore from getting worse or passing the infection on to someone else. Contact your doctor if you have blurred vision or other vision problems.

Do not use for more than 5 days.

Do not use this medicine in children under 12 years of age as it is not known if it will work for them or if it is safe for them to use it.

interactions

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking/using, have recently taken/used or might take/use any other medicines. It is not known whether the effect of Activir Duo can be influenced by taking other medicines at the same time.

Using Activir Duo with food and drink
Do not apply the cream immediately before eating as the cream could be licked off.

Pregnancy, breast-feeding and fertility
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before using this medicine. This medicine should not be used during pregnancy or breast-feeding unless your doctor decides that the potential benefit outweighs the possibility of unknown risks.

application

Always use this medicine exactly as described in this leaflet or as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

For cutaneous use only. Do not use more than the recommended dose.

Adults and adolescents aged 12 and over:
Apply the cream 5 times a day (ie approximately every 3-4 hours while awake) for 5 days. It is recommended to start treatment as soon as possible, preferably at the first sign or discomfort (e.g. tingling, redness or itching).

Do not use for more than 5 days. If you do not feel better or if you feel worse 5 days after stopping treatment, contact your doctor.

Method of use
Wash your hands before and after application to avoid making your cold sores worse or spreading the infection to someone else. If you develop an ulcer, do not touch it more than necessary to avoid spreading the infection to other areas of your body or your eyes.

side effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Stop using this medicine and tell your doctor straight away if you have any of the following signs of an allergic reaction (very rare side effect: may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people).

• Swelling of the face, tongue or throat which may cause difficulty swallowing or breathing.
• hives.

composition

The active substances are: aciclovir and hydrocortisone. One gram of cream contains 50 mg aciclovir and 10 mg hydrocortisone.

The other ingredients are: thick liquid paraffin, propylene glycol, isopropyl myristate, sodium laurilsulfate, cetostearyl alcohol, white petrolatum, poloxamer 188, citric acid monohydrate, sodium hydroxide, hydrochloric acid and purified water.