acyclovir vs chloroquine
Side-by-side comparison of acyclovir and chloroquine Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Zovirax
Aralen
Acyclovir is an antiviral medicine. It is used to treat infections caused by certain viruses.
Chloroquine phosphate is a drug used to treat and prevent malaria. It can also treat a type of infection called extraintestinal amebiasis.
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 can treat uncomplicated malaria caused by certain types of parasites. It can also prevent malaria in areas where the parasites are sensitive to chloroquine. Chloroquine can also treat extraintestinal amebiasis, which is an infection outside of the intestines. This medicine will not prevent malaria from returning in some patients.
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.
Chloroquine phosphate works by killing the parasites that cause malaria and amebiasis. It stops the parasites from growing and multiplying in your body. For malaria caused by certain parasites, you may need to take another medicine with chloroquine.
- • Malaise (feeling unwell)
- • Nausea
- • Diarrhea
No common side effects listed.
- 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
- Using the medicine for something it's not approved for 63
- Throwing up 49
- Feeling sick to your stomach 48
- Head pain 41
- High blood pressure 41
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.
You should not take this medicine if you have changes in your retina or vision. You should not take this medicine if you are allergic to similar drugs.
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.
Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding before taking this medicine. It is not known if chloroquine can harm your unborn baby. Chloroquine can pass into breast milk.
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How to Read This acyclovir vs chloroquine Comparison
acyclovir is classified in the Antiviral (Nucleoside Analog) drug class, while chloroquine sits within the Antimalarial 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 chloroquine has 242. 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 chloroquine — 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.