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Indications and Dosage
Topical/Cutaneous
Herpes labialis Adult: As 1% cream: Apply a sufficient amount to cover lesions on the lips and surrounding symptomatic skin on the face (e.g. areas of tingling) every 2 hours during waking hours for 4 days. Initiate treatment as early as possible at the 1st sign of infection (e.g. itching, tingling, redness, presence of bump).
Child: ≥12 years Same as adult dose. |
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Contraindications
Hypersensitivity.
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Special Precautions
Immunocompromised patients (e.g. AIDS patients, bone marrow transplant recipients). Not recommended for application to the mucous membranes (e.g. in the eyes, mouth or nose, on the genitals). Children. Pregnancy and lactation.
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Adverse Reactions
Gastrointestinal disorders: Taste perversion.
General disorders and administration site conditions: Application site reactions (e.g. burning sensation, pain, hypoaesthesia). Skin and subcutaneous disorders: Skin discolouration, urticaria, rash, pruritus, oedema. |
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Patient Counseling Information
Avoid application in or near the eyes.
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Action
Description:
Overview: Penciclovir, an antiviral agent, is a synthetic acyclic guanine nucleoside analogue with activity against herpes simplex virus types 1 (HSV-1) and 2 (HSV-2). Mechanism of Action: In HSV-1 and HSV-2-infected cells, the viral thymidine kinase (TK) converts penciclovir to penciclovir monophosphate, which is then converted by other cellular enzymes to the active triphosphate metabolite. Penciclovir triphosphate competes with deoxyguanosine triphosphate for viral DNA polymerase, thereby inhibiting viral DNA synthesis and replication. Pharmacodynamics: In cell culture, resistance to penciclovir resulted from changes in viral TK and DNA polymerase (POL) genes. Frameshift mutations were frequently isolated and caused premature truncation of HSV TK product, leading to reduced enzymatic activity and, consequently, diminished susceptibility to penciclovir. Mutations in the viral TK gene may result in complete absence of TK activity (TK negative), diminished TK activity (TK partial), or alterations in the enzyme's ability to phosphorylate the drug without an equivalent loss of thymidine phosphorylation (TK altered). Onset: Resolution of pain: 3.5 days. Cutaneous healing: 4.8 days. Pharmacokinetics: Absorption: Not absorbed systemically after topical administration. |
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Chemical Structure
 Source: National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Summary for CID 135398748, Penciclovir. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Penciclovir. Accessed Jan. 28, 2026. |
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Storage
Store below 30°C.
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MIMS Class
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ATC Classification
D06BB06 - penciclovir ; Belongs to the class of topical antivirals used in the treatment of dermatological diseases.
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References
Brayfield A, Cadart C (eds). Penciclovir. Martindale: The Complete Drug Reference [online]. London. Pharmaceutical Press. https://www.medicinescomplete.com. Accessed 09/12/2025. Fenistil Cold Sore Cream (Omega Pharma Ltd.). MHRA. https://products.mhra.gov.uk. Accessed 09/12/2025. Penciclovir Cream (Torrent Pharmaceuticals Limited). DailyMed. Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed. Accessed 29/12/2025. Penciclovir. UpToDate Lexidrug, AHFS DI (Adult and Pediatric) Online. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. Waltham, MA. UpToDate, Inc. https://online.lexi.com. Accessed 09/12/2025. Penciclovir. UpToDate Lexidrug, Lexi-Drugs Multinational Online. Waltham, MA. UpToDate, Inc. https://online.lexi.com. Accessed 09/12/2025.
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