Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: ACYCLOVIR versus ZOVIRAX.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: ACYCLOVIR versus ZOVIRAX.
ACYCLOVIR vs ZOVIRAX
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.
After intracellular phosphorylation to acyclovir triphosphate, selectively inhibits viral DNA polymerase and incorporates into viral DNA, causing chain termination.
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.
Herpes simplex: 200 mg orally 5 times daily for 10 days; or 400 mg orally 3 times daily for 5-10 days. Herpes zoster: 800 mg orally 5 times daily for 7-10 days. IV: 5-10 mg/kg every 8 hours for immunocompromised patients with HSV/VZV.
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.
Terminal elimination half-life is 2.5-3.3 hours in adults with normal renal function; prolonged to 19.5 hours in anuria (creatinine clearance <10 mL/min).
Renal excretion of unchanged drug via glomerular filtration and tubular secretion accounts for 62-90% of elimination. Fecal elimination is <2%.
Renal excretion of unchanged drug via glomerular filtration and tubular secretion accounts for 76-82% of elimination; fecal excretion is less than 2%.
Category A/B
Category C
Antiviral
Antiviral