Author: Nick Hatch, M.D.
Educational Pearls
- Acyclovir toxicity can uncommonly cause altered mental status, low blood glucose, hallucinations and myoclonic jerks.
- Toxicity often occurs in the setting of renal insufficiency, as it is cleared by the kidneys.
- Acyclovir is often used to treat shingles, which can also cause similar symptoms as acyclovir toxicity due to encephalitis - rule this out in the setting of a concomitant shingles infection.
References: http://www.rxlist.com/zovirax-drug.htm
