Medication	Dosing	Renal adjustment	Hepatic adjustment	Adverse reactions	Cost*
Acyclovir (Zovirax)	Adults: 400 mg five times daily for seven days	Creatinine clearance: Less than 10 mL per minute (0.17 mL per second): give half dose once daily 10 to 50 mL per minute (0.17 to 0.83 mL per second): give same dose every 12 to 24 hours	Undefined	Gastrointestinal upset, headache, dizziness, elevated liver enzymes, aplastic anemia (rare)	$66 to $76 (generic) $132 (brand)
Acyclovir (Zovirax)	Children older than two years: 80 mg per kg daily divided every six hours for five days, with a maximal dose of 3,200 mg daily		Undefined		$66 to $76 (generic) $132 (brand)
Valacyclovir (Valtrex)	Adults and children older than 12 years: 1 g three times daily for seven days	Creatinine clearance: Less than 10 mL per minute: 500 mg daily 10 to 29 mL per minute (0.17 to 0.48 mL per second): 1 g daily 30 to 49 mL per minute (0.50 to 0.82 mL per second): 1 g twice daily	None	Gastrointestinal upset, headache, dizziness, elevated liver enzymes, aplastic anemia (rare)	$208 (brand)
Prednisone or prednisolone	Adults: 60 mg daily for five days, then 40 mg daily for five days	None	Undefined	Headache, nervousness, edema, elevated blood pressure, elevated glucose	$3 (generic) $6 (brand)
Prednisone or prednisolone	Children: 2 mg per kg daily for seven to 10 days	None	Undefined		$3 (generic) $6 (brand)