acyclovir vs caspofungin
Side-by-side comparison of acyclovir and caspofungin Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Zovirax
Cancidas
Acyclovir is an antiviral medicine. It is used to treat infections caused by certain viruses.
Caspofungin is an antifungal medicine. It fights 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.
Caspofungin treats several types of fungal infections. It is used for presumed fungal infections in patients with fever and low white blood cell counts. Caspofungin also treats infections caused by Candida, such as infections in the blood, abdomen, and esophagus. It can also treat invasive aspergillosis when other medicines don't work or can't be tolerated.
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.
Caspofungin stops fungi from growing. It does this by blocking a key part of the fungal cell wall. This causes the fungal cells to die.
- • Malaise (feeling unwell)
- • Nausea
- • Diarrhea
- • Diarrhea
- • Fever
- • Increased liver enzyme levels
- • Decreased potassium levels
- • Rash
- 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 644
- Using the medicine for a condition it is not approved for 233
- Death 223
- Using the product for a condition it is not approved for 207
- Lung infection 200
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.
Caspofungin can cause serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. If you have signs of an allergic reaction, stop taking caspofungin right away. Caspofungin can also affect your liver. Your doctor will monitor your liver function with blood tests.
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.
Caspofungin may harm your unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if caspofungin passes into breast milk, so talk to your doctor about breastfeeding while taking this medicine.
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How to Read This acyclovir vs caspofungin Comparison
acyclovir is classified in the Antiviral (Nucleoside Analog) drug class, while caspofungin 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 caspofungin has 1,507. 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 caspofungin — 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.