Systemic use drugs
Generic name (brand name)             Suggested dosage and duration (days)
Acyclovir (Zovirax) (Rx)    400 mg tid X 7
Famciclovir (Famvir) (Rx) 125 mg bid X 5
Valacyclovir (Valtrex)        500 mg bid X 5
Topical Use
Generic name (brand name) Suggested dosage and duration (days)
Penciclovir (Denavir) Cream, 1% (Rx) Every 2 hours
Acyclovir (Zovirax) Ointment, 5% (Rx) Every 2 hours
Docosanol (Abreva) Cream (OTC) Every 3 hours
IPA tincture of BZK, 0.13% + 5% Benzocaine (Viroxyn Solution) (OTC)                  Single Application
Reprinted with Permission from Essentials of Oral Medicine, Silverman S, Eversole R, Truelove E, 2001, BC Decker, Hamilton, ON – Table 13-2, p. 122
mg=milligram
bid=twice daily
tid=three times daily
Table 1: Antiviral drugs for herpes simplex virus.