acyclovir vs amphotericin B
Side-by-side comparison of acyclovir and amphotericin B Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Zovirax
Ambisome, Fungizone
Acyclovir is an antiviral medicine. It is used to treat infections caused by certain viruses.
Amphotericin B liposome is an antifungal medicine. It fights serious fungal infections in your body.
Acyclovir is used to treat shingles, which is caused by herpes zoster. It also treats genital herpes, both the first time you have it and when it comes back. Acyclovir can also treat chickenpox.
This medicine treats fungal infections like aspergillosis, candidiasis, and cryptococcosis. It can also treat cryptococcal meningitis in people with HIV. It may also be used for visceral leishmaniasis, but this infection can return, especially in those with weak immune systems.
Acyclovir stops the virus from growing and spreading. It does this by interfering with the virus's ability to make copies of itself. This helps your body fight off the infection.
Amphotericin B liposome belongs to a class of drugs called polyene antifungals. It works by binding to the membrane of the fungal cells. This binding disrupts the fungal cell membrane, causing the cell to die.
- • Malaise (feeling unwell)
- • Nausea
- • Diarrhea
- • Abdominal pain
- • Weakness
- • Back pain
- • Chills
- • Pain
- Tiredness 7,612
- Diarrhea 7,064
- Using the medicine for something it's not approved for 5,797
- Lung infection 5,474
- Feeling sick to your stomach 5,330
- The medicine is not working 3,939
- Using the medicine for a condition it's not approved for 1,911
- Fever 974
- Condition got worse 842
- Fever with low white blood cell count 650
Acyclovir can cause nervous system problems, especially in older adults or people with kidney problems. Tell your doctor if you have kidney problems before taking this medicine.
This medicine is not interchangeable with other amphotericin B products. Different versions of amphotericin B act differently in the body. Make sure you always get the correct medicine.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if acyclovir will harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking acyclovir while breastfeeding.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if this medicine will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of using this medicine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
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How to Read This acyclovir vs amphotericin B Comparison
acyclovir is classified in the Antiviral (Nucleoside Analog) drug class, while amphotericin B sits within the Polyene Antifungal class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, acyclovir has 31,277 submissions while amphotericin B has 8,316. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between acyclovir and amphotericin B — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.