Why is acyclovir tablets only available on prescription?? but the cream is available on the shelf?

Especially when aciclovir does less harm than a lot of medication u can but OTC? Its like making ibuprofen tablets prescription only whilst the gel is available on the shelf? Dosnt make sense!!!!|||It%26#039;s possibly because it can be harmful during pregnancy and because there are several side effect linked to Aciclovir tablets, so maybe Doctors need to know a patient%26#039;s history before they can be given the tablets. The cream is obviously for external use and the side effects aren%26#039;t such a problem.|||A lot of things that the FDA does makes no sense. However, the answer lies in the blood concentration of the drug: topically applied medication rarely gets the same blood levels of the medication as does oral. So, even though you are correct in that the side effect profile of acyclovir is pretty mild, the FDA has %26quot;protected%26quot; the public by requiring the oral product to be by prescription only.