Penciclovir Cream: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Penciclovir Cream (penciclovir 1%, brand name Denavir) is a prescription topical antiviral used to treat recurrent cold sores on the lips and face caused by the herpes simplex virus. It is approved for adults and children 12 years and older. The cream works best when applied at the very first sign of an outbreak and may help sores heal faster while reducing pain, burning, itching, and tenderness. It does not cure the herpes virus, prevent future outbreaks, or stop it from spreading to others.

What is Penciclovir Cream

Penciclovir 1% cream (brand name Denavir) is a prescription antiviral cream used to treat cold sores on the lips and face caused by the herpes simplex virus. It is used in adults and children 12 years and older.

Penciclovir Cream uses

• Treats recurrent cold sores (herpes labialis) on the lips and face caused by herpes simplex virus
• Works best when applied at the very first sign of an outbreak, such as tingling, itching, redness, or a bump

Benefits of Penciclovir Cream

• May help cold sores heal faster
• Decreases pain, burning, itching, and tenderness from the sores
• Applied to the skin only, so it is not absorbed much into the rest of the body

How Penciclovir Cream works

Penciclovir is an antiviral medicine. Antivirals treat infections caused by viruses, and usually each one works against only one kind or group of viruses.

Penciclovir Cream dosage

This cream is for use on the lips and face only; do not use it inside the mouth, nose, or near the eyes. If the cream gets in your nose or mouth, rinse with water; if it gets in your eyes, rinse with plenty of cool water. Wash your hands before and after applying the cream.

Clean and dry the affected area before applying to avoid spreading the infection. Rub the cream in gently, using enough to cover all the sores completely, applying a thin film of the medication to the affected area.

Start using as soon as possible after symptoms first appear (tingling, burning, redness, or blisters). Continue using for the full course of treatment even if you feel better; do not stop early without talking to your doctor. Do not share the tube with anyone else.

Use and dosing in children should be determined by a doctor; it may be prescribed for children 12 and older but special precautions apply.

Available forms and strengths

• Cream, 1%

Side effects of Penciclovir Cream

Common

• Headache
• Mild burning, stinging, redness, irritation, or numbness at the application site
• Changes in sense of taste
• Decreased skin sensitivity, particularly to touch

Serious

• Severe allergic reaction: hives, rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, or trouble breathing
• Severe skin redness, itching, rash, or pain after applying the medicine
• Secondary bacterial infection if the sore worsens or fails to heal

Warnings and precautions

• Do not apply this cream inside your nose or in or near your eyes.
• This medicine is for external use on the lips and face only; do not take it by mouth or use it on other internal parts of the body.
• This medicine does not kill the virus, so it may still be possible to spread the infection to others.
• If you think you have swallowed too much of this medicine, get emergency help or contact a poison control center right away, although an overdose is not expected to be dangerous.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Because this medicine is not absorbed much into the body, it is not expected to be harmful during pregnancy, but check with your doctor.
• Studies suggest this medication poses minimal risk to a breastfeeding infant.
• No routine dose adjustment is needed for kidney conditions with topical use.
• No routine dose adjustment is generally required for liver conditions.
• No significant direct interaction with alcohol is expected.
• Does not normally affect driving.

Storage

• Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light
• Keep from freezing
• Keep out of the reach of children and pets
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed
• Dispose of unneeded medication in a way that pets, children, and other people cannot take it; do not flush it down the toilet; use a medicine take-back program

When to see a doctor

• Get emergency help right away if you have signs of an allergic reaction, such as hives, trouble breathing, or swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Call your doctor right away if you have severe skin redness, itching, rash, or pain after applying this medicine.
• Call your doctor if your cold sore symptoms do not improve or if they get worse.
• Call your doctor if you still have symptoms of infection after you finish the full course of the medicine.

Alternatives

• Famciclovir
• Valacyclovir
• Docosanol cream
• Acyclovir cream