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Paluch Z, Trojánek M, Velíšková Z, et al. Neurotoxic side effects of acyclovir: two case reports. Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2021;42(6):375-382
Paluch, Z., Trojánek, M., Velíšková, Z., Mlíchová, J., Chrbolka, P., Gregorová, J., Marques, E., Kalatova, D., & Pícha, D. (2021). Neurotoxic side effects of acyclovir: two case reports. Neuro endocrinology letters, 42(6), 375-382.
Paluch, Zoltan, et al. "Neurotoxic side effects of acyclovir: two case reports." Neuro endocrinology letters vol. 42,6 (2021): 375-382.
Paluch Z, Trojánek M, Velíšková Z, Mlíchová J, Chrbolka P, Gregorová J, Marques E, Kalatova D, Pícha D. Neurotoxic side effects of acyclovir: two case reports. Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2021 Oct 29;42(6):375-382. Epub 2021 Oct 29. PMID: 34713692.
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Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2021 Oct 29;42(6):375-382. Epub 2021 Oct 29.

Neurotoxic side effects of acyclovir: two case reports.

Neuro endocrinology letters

Zoltan Paluch, Milan Trojánek, Zuzana Velíšková, Jana Mlíchová, Pavel Chrbolka, Jana Gregorová, Emanuel Marques, Dagmar Kalatova, Dušan Pícha

Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
  2. Department of Infectious Diseases, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
  3. Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Tropical Diseases, Bulovka Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic.
  4. Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Bulovka Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic.
  5. St. John Nepomucene Neumann Institute, P?íbram, Czech Republic; St. Elisabeth University of Health Care and Social Work (a non-profit organization), Bratislava, Slovakia.

PMID: 34713692

Abstract

Acyclovir is an antiviral drug frequently used in clinical practice. It is indicated for the treatment of infections caused by herpes simplex virus and varicella zoster virus. The drug has a good safety profile; however, severe side effects may rarely occur during therapy. These include renal failure as a major risk factor for neurotoxic side effects potentially developing within 24-48 hours of therapy initiation. The paper presents the cases of two patients developing neurotoxic side effects while treated for herpes zoster. The aim of the authors is to highlight the potential for developing neurotoxic side effects in high-risk groups such as the elderly, patients with impaired renal function or multiple comorbidities on polypharmacy, or those using nephrotoxic drugs. Acyclovir use could lead to renal impairment and an increase in its plasma and CNS concentrations with severe neuropsychiatric side effects. The neurotoxic side effects are reversible after therapy withdrawal. Thus, in patients developing mental impairment or showing other neurological symptoms during acyclovir therapy, the patient should be promptly assessed for potential drug neurotoxicity, their therapy should be discontinued and drug elimination with forced diuresis or hemodialysis considered. Early recognition of acyclovir neurotoxic side effects can significantly improve a patient's prognosis.

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