Higher dose versus lower dose of antiviral therapy in the treatment of herpes zoster infection in the elderly: a matched retrospective population-based cohort study

Table 1 Oral antiviral dosing for acute herpes zoster in popular drug prescribing references

	Higher dose (mg/day)^a	Lower dose (mg/day)^a	UpToDate recommendations (dose in mg/day)[7]-[9]	Compendium of pharmaceuticals and specialties (dose in mg/day)[10]-[12]
Acyclovir	4,000	3,200	4,000	4,000
		2,400	CrCl 10–25 mL/min/1.73 m²: 2,400	CrCl 10–25 mL/min/1.73 m²: 2,400
		1,600	CrCl <10 mL/min/1.73 m²: 1,600	CrCl <10 mL/min/1.73 m²: 1,600
		800
Valacyclovir	3,000	2,000	3,000	3,000
		1,500	CrCl 15–30 mL/min: 2,000	CrCl 15–30 mL/min: 2,000
		1,000	CrCl <15 mL/min: 1,000	CrCl <15 mL/min: 1,000
		500
Famciclovir	1,500	1,000	1,500	1,500
		500	CrCl 40–59 mL/min: 1,000	CrCl 40–59 mL/min/1.73 m²: 1,000
		350^b	CrCl 20–39 mL/min: 500	CrCl 20–39 mL/min/1.73 m²: 500
			CrCl <20 mL/min: 250	CrCl <20 mL/min/1.73 m²: 250

^aDose categories as defined in this study include 50 mg dose above or below the cut-points.
^bA dose of 350 mg/day was used instead of 250 mg/day because it was more commonly dispensed in our region with <20 patients being prescribed a dose of <300 mg/day.
Abbreviation: CrCl Creatinine Clearance.

ISSN: 2050-6511