Podcast #223: Acyclovir Toxicity

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