Pharmacare and Multiple Collaborators DHCPL: Valaciclovir/Aciclovir – Containing Medicines – Risk of Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS)

Dear Healthcare Professional,

Aspen Pharmacare, Adcock Ingram Limited, Pharma Dynamics and Sandoz SA (Pty) Ltd, in collaboration with the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA), would like to draw your attention to the following important safety information associated with the use of valaciclovir/aciclovir-containing medicines registered in South Africa.

The DHCPL is intended to inform healthcare professionals (HCPs) about the risk of DRESS associated with the use of valaciclovir/aciclovir-containing medicines. DRESS is a rare, but serious, and potentially life-threatening fatal drug reaction that includes fever, severe skin rash or peeling of the skin over large areas of the body, swollen face, elevated white blood cell count (Including eosinophils), and can affect one or more organs (commonly liver).