acyclovir vs darunavir
Side-by-side comparison of acyclovir and darunavir Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Acyclovir is an antiviral medicine. It is used to treat infections caused by certain viruses.
Darunavir is a medicine used to treat HIV. It belongs to a class of drugs called protease inhibitors and must be taken with ritonavir.
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.
Darunavir is used to treat HIV-1 infection in adults and children 3 years and older. It must be taken with ritonavir and other HIV medicines. Darunavir helps to lower the amount of HIV in your body.
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.
Darunavir is a protease inhibitor. It works by blocking an enzyme called protease that HIV needs to make copies of itself. This helps to slow down the spread of HIV in your body.
- • Malaise (feeling unwell)
- • Nausea
- • Diarrhea
- • Diarrhea
- • Nausea
- • Rash
- • Headache
- • Abdominal 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
- Baby exposed to drug during pregnancy 1,150
- Interaction between medicines 981
- Pain 889
- Emotional upset 812
- Worry 811
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.
Darunavir can cause liver problems. Your doctor should check your liver before you start taking darunavir and during treatment. Tell your doctor right away if you have any signs of liver problems, such as yellowing of the skin or eyes.
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. The recommended dose during pregnancy is 600 mg twice daily with ritonavir 100mg and food. Women with HIV should not breastfeed because HIV can be passed to the baby through breast milk.
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How to Read This acyclovir vs darunavir Comparison
acyclovir is classified in the Antiviral (Nucleoside Analog) drug class, while darunavir sits within the HIV Protease Inhibitor 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 darunavir has 4,643. 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 darunavir — 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.