Acyclovir (Zovirax)

ATI-format individual drug card with NCLEX-focused assessment, safety, teaching, and source attribution.

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Infectious Diseaseneeds review

Acyclovir (Zovirax)

ATI class: Antiviral / Nucleoside analog

Action

  • ATI/source-folder candidate for Acyclovir (Zovirax); verify mechanism against the source table before validation.

Therapeutic use

  • Review under Antivirals medication safety.

Nursing assessment

  • Assess lesion or viral symptom pattern, immune status, renal function, hydration, neurologic status, and pregnancy status.
  • Monitor urine output, creatinine, confusion, tremor, and severe rash.
  • For IV therapy, monitor infusion site and hydration status.

Administration

  • Verify route against the order and source table.

Side effects

  • Verify common side effects against the source table.

Adverse effects

  • Nephrotoxicity or crystalluria risk
  • Neurotoxicity symptoms
  • GI upset
  • IV site irritation

Interactions

  • Other nephrotoxic medications increase kidney injury risk.
  • Probenecid can increase acyclovir exposure.
  • Renal impairment changes dosing and toxicity risk.

Contraindications

  • See source-specific contraindications and precautions before administration.

Precautions

  • Acyclovir or valacyclovir hypersensitivity
  • Renal impairment
  • Dehydration

Client teaching

  • Maintain hydration if allowed.
  • Start therapy early as ordered and complete the course.
  • Report decreased urine output, confusion, severe rash, or worsening symptoms.

Medication outcomes

  • Therapeutic response with no priority adverse effects.

Antidote / rescue

  • No specific antidote is seeded; hold/question unsafe doses and manage toxicity per provider, facility, or poison-control guidance.

NCLEX priority cues

  • Acyclovir renal hydration teaching is a source-highlighted target.
  • Decreased urine output or neuro symptoms require escalation.
  • Immunocompromised fever or worsening status is priority.

Medication classes

Antivirals

Source attribution

Google Drive source topic: Antivirals
google-drive
Sentinel pharmacology API reference
sentinel-api
Manual ATI-format NCLEX candidate normalization
manual-seed

Related study cards

Shows the medication class, ATI cues, source references, and connected study cards for this drug.

12 study links
Med classmedication class
Antivirals

Interferes with viral replication; exact target and timing depend on the antiviral.

ATI cuePrecaution
Acyclovir or valacyclovir hypersensitivity

ATI medication precaution concept.

ATI cueNCLEX Priority Cue
Acyclovir renal hydration teaching is a source-highlighted target.

ATI medication nclex priority cue concept.

ATI cueClass
Antiviral

ATI medication class concept.

ATI cueNursing Assessment
Assess lesion or viral symptom pattern, immune status, renal function, hydration, neurologic status, and pregnancy status.

ATI medication nursing assessment concept.

ATI cueMechanism of Action
ATI/source-folder candidate for Acyclovir (Zovirax); verify mechanism against the source table before validation.

ATI medication mechanism of action concept.

ATI cueNCLEX Priority Cue
Decreased urine output or neuro symptoms require escalation.

ATI medication nclex priority cue concept.

ATI cuePrecaution
Dehydration

ATI medication precaution concept.

ATI cueNursing Assessment
For IV therapy, monitor infusion site and hydration status.

ATI medication nursing assessment concept.

ATI cueAdverse Effect
GI upset

ATI medication adverse effect concept.

ATI cueNCLEX Priority Cue
Immunocompromised fever or worsening status is priority.

ATI medication nclex priority cue concept.

ATI cueAdverse Effect
IV site irritation

ATI medication adverse effect concept.