Tablet
200 mg
Cream
5% cream
Eye ointment
3%
Dosage Forms
Uses
Dose and Duration
Non-genital Herpes simplex
Adult and child >2 years: 200 mg every 4 hours
(400 mg in immunocompromised patients) for 5 days or until
healing is complete
Child 1 month–2 years: 100 mg every 4 hours
for 5 days or until healing is complete
Herpes simplex infection of the eyes
Apply 1 cm of ointment every 6 hours. Continue for at least 3
days after healing is complete
Herpes simplex infection of lips and face (Herpes labialis)
Adult and child: treatment should ideally be
started when lesions first appear. Apply a thin film of cream to
the lesions and surrounding skin 5 times a day every 4 hour
during the day for 5 days. Continue treatment for 5 more days if
healing has not occurred
Genital herpes simplex
Adult: 800 mg every 8 hours for 5 days (10 days
in immunocompromised) or until healing is complete
Varicella and herpes zoster
Adult: 800 mg every 4 hours for 7 days or until
lesions are healed in immunocompromised patients
Child 6–12 years:800 mg every 6 hours for 7
days
Child 2–6 years:400 mg every 6 hours for 5 days
Child 1 month–2 years: 200 mg every 6 hours for
5 days