Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: ACYCLOVIR versus HERPLEX.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: ACYCLOVIR versus HERPLEX.
ACYCLOVIR vs HERPLEX
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Acyclovir is a synthetic nucleoside analog that inhibits viral DNA replication. It is phosphorylated to acyclovir monophosphate by viral thymidine kinase, then converted to acyclovir triphosphate by cellular kinases. Acyclovir triphosphate competes with deoxyguanosine triphosphate for viral DNA polymerase, incorporating into viral DNA and causing chain termination.
Inhibits viral DNA polymerase after phosphorylation to acyclovir triphosphate, leading to chain termination and inhibition of herpes simplex virus replication.
400 mg orally twice daily for herpes zoster; 200 mg orally 5 times daily for genital herpes; 5-10 mg/kg intravenously every 8 hours for severe infections.
Acyclovir 200 mg orally 5 times daily for 10 days for initial genital herpes; 400 mg orally twice daily for suppressive therapy; 5-10 mg/kg IV every 8 hours for severe infections.
None Documented
None Documented
Clinical Note
moderateAcyclovir + Teriflunomide
"The serum concentration of Teriflunomide can be increased when it is combined with Acyclovir."
Clinical Note
moderateTizanidine + Acyclovir
"The serum concentration of Acyclovir can be increased when it is combined with Tizanidine."
Terminal elimination half-life is 2.5–3.3 hours in adults with normal renal function; increases to 19.5 hours in anuria.
2.5–3.3 hours in adults with normal renal function; prolonged to 10–20 hours in anuria (CrCl <10 mL/min); requires dose adjustment in renal impairment
Renal excretion of unchanged drug via glomerular filtration and tubular secretion accounts for 62-90% of elimination. Fecal elimination is <2%.
Renal: ~90% as unchanged drug via glomerular filtration and tubular secretion; minor biliary/fecal elimination (<2%)
Category A/B
Category C
Antiviral
Antiviral