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acyclovir vs anidulafungin

Side-by-side comparison of acyclovir and anidulafungin Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

Drug Class
acyclovir Antiviral (Nucleoside Analog)
anidulafungin Echinocandin Antifungal
Type
acyclovir Prescription
anidulafungin Prescription
Summary
acyclovir

Acyclovir is an antiviral medicine. It is used to treat infections caused by certain viruses.

anidulafungin

Eraxis is an antifungal medicine. It treats certain Candida infections in your body.

What It Treats
acyclovir

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.

anidulafungin

Eraxis treats candidemia and other Candida infections, like intra-abdominal abscesses and peritonitis. It can be used in adults and children 1 month and older. Eraxis also treats esophageal candidiasis (a Candida infection in the esophagus) in adults. However, Eraxis may not work as well for esophageal candidiasis, and the infection may come back.

How It Works
acyclovir

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.

anidulafungin

Eraxis belongs to a class of drugs called echinocandins. It works by stopping the growth of the fungus Candida. It does this by blocking a key part of the fungal cell wall.

Common Side Effects
acyclovir
  • Malaise (feeling unwell)
  • Nausea
  • Diarrhea
anidulafungin
  • Low potassium levels
  • Nausea
  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting
  • Fever
FAERS Reports
acyclovir
  • 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
anidulafungin
  • The medicine did not work 367
  • Many organs stop working right 171
  • Using the medicine for something it's not approved for 164
  • Dangerous drop in blood pressure due to infection 127
  • Blood infection 115
Serious Warnings
acyclovir

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.

anidulafungin

Eraxis can cause liver problems. Your doctor should check your liver function while you are taking Eraxis. Allergic reactions, including shock, can happen. Tell your doctor right away if you have any signs of an allergic reaction, like rash, hives, flushing, itching, trouble breathing, or low blood pressure. Eraxis contains fructose. If you have hereditary fructose intolerance, you should not take Eraxis.

Pregnancy
acyclovir

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.

anidulafungin

Eraxis may harm your unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Eraxis passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of breastfeeding while taking Eraxis.

Also Compare — Nearby Drugs

How to Read This acyclovir vs anidulafungin Comparison

acyclovir is classified in the Antiviral (Nucleoside Analog) drug class, while anidulafungin sits within the Echinocandin 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 anidulafungin has 944. 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 anidulafungin — 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.