When should Brivudin not be given?

Brivudine must not be given to certain groups of patients: Therefore, it is imperative that the treating physician be informed of all medications that are taken regularly. – during pregnancy and lactation

If the patient is younger than 18 years
In case of known hypersensitivity to brivudine and the other ingredients contained in the tablet
Are not given in the case of simultaneous treatment with certain other active substances. Brivudine should not be taken during pregnancy or while breast-feeding.

If the expectant mother takes the drug during pregnancy, the active substance may enter the baby’s bloodstream. Brivudine may also enter the baby’s body through breast milk and cause developmental damage. For this reason, Brivudine should not be used during pregnancy or while breast-feeding.

In addition, the doctor in charge should always be informed whether you are pregnant or breastfeeding when drug treatment is considered. There is no known interaction between Brivudine and the sex hormones contained in the pill. Therefore, the effectiveness of the pill is not affected when Brivudine is taken at the same time. In fact, it is important to ensure reliable contraception when using Brivudine, as the child may be harmed in the event of pregnancy. Anyone who is not taking the pill should therefore use contraception such as condoms during sexual intercourse for the duration of taking Brivudine.

Alternatives to Brivudin

As an alternative to the treatment of viral diseases such as shingles, there are several other drugs available that also intervene in the reproduction cycle of the viruses. Aciclovir is probably the most widely used drug. It is also used to treat diseases caused by herpes viruses.

However, it is much less effective than Brivudin. In mild cases, such as lip herpes, treatment with Brivudine is usually not necessary and the use of acyclovir is sufficient. In contrast to Brivudine, acyclovir can also be applied in the form of an ointment, for example, so that tablets do not need to be taken.

However, in the case of shingles, Brivudine is usually the drug of choice and alternatives should only be used if there are reasons to avoid taking it – for example, intolerance to the drug. In such cases, however, there is often an intolerance to the structurally related acyclovir. In such a case, the treating physician must decide individually which alternative is suitable for treatment.

Is Brivudine available over the counter?

Brivudine is a prescription drug, which means that you can only get it with a doctor’s prescription in a pharmacy. Over-the-counter alternatives for the treatment of shingles or other forms of herpes include zinc ointments, which do not contain any anti-viral agent. In most cases, shingles should be treated as early as possible with Brivudine or a comparable drug.

You should therefore see your doctor immediately if the typical symptoms occur. One of the reasons why shingles is only available on prescription is that serious interactions can occur if certain other medicines are taken at the same time. An assessment of whether the drug can be given should therefore only be made by a doctor.