II. Indications

III. Mechanism

  1. See Acyclovir

IV. Medications

  1. Penciclovir 1% Cream

V. Dosing: Adults (and children age >12 years)

  1. Start topical application at first symptoms
  2. Apply every 2 hours while awake for 4 days

VI. Efficacy

  1. Study n=1573, PCT showed significant improvement
    1. More than 0.5 days faster resolution, decreased pain
  2. Reference
    1. Spruance (1997) JAMA 277:1374-9 [PubMed]

Images: Related links to external sites (from Bing)

Related Studies

Cost: Medications

penciclovir (on 2/22/2023 at Medicaid.Gov Survey of pharmacy drug pricing)
PENCICLOVIR 1% CREAM Generic $107.44 per gram
denavir (on 6/22/2022 at Medicaid.Gov Survey of pharmacy drug pricing)
DENAVIR 1% CREAM $155.48 per gram

Ontology: penciclovir (C0164815)

Definition (NCI) A synthetic acyclic guanine derivative with antiviral activity, mainly used to treat infections from herpes simplex virus (HSV) types 1 and 2. In HSV infected cells, penciclovir is phosphorylated by viral thymidine kinase and subsequently converted by cellular kinases into the active metabolite, penciclovir triphosphate, which competitively inhibits viral HSV polymerase by blocking deoxyguanosine triphosphate substrate binding. As a result, herpes viral DNA synthesis and replication are selectively inhibited.
Concepts Pharmacologic Substance (T121) , Nucleic Acid, Nucleoside, or Nucleotide (T114)
MSH C053539
SnomedCT 356191006, 333029001, 108918003, 386939003
LNC LP101038-0, MTHU036238
English 9-(4-hydroxy-3-hydroxymethylbut-1-yl)guanine, penciclovir, Penciclovir [skin], penciclovir (medication), PENCICLOVIR, penciclovir [Chemical/Ingredient], 6H-Purin-6-one, 2-amino-1,9-dihydro-9-(4-hydroxy-3-(hydroxymethyl)butyl)-, 9-(4-Hydroxy-3-(hydroxymethyl)butyl)guanine, Penciclovir [skin] (product), Penciclovir, Penciclovir (product), Penciclovir (substance), Penciclovir [skin] (substance)
Spanish penciclovir (uso dermatológico), penciclovir (uso dermatológico) (producto), penciclovir (piel) (producto), penciclovir (piel), penciclovir (producto), penciclovir (sustancia), penciclovir

Ontology: Denavir (C0719742)

Concepts Pharmacologic Substance (T121) , Nucleic Acid, Nucleoside, or Nucleotide (T114)
MSH C053539
English Denavir, denavir, Vectavir, Novartis brand of penciclovir, SB-CH brand of penciclovir