acyclovir vs dolutegravir
Side-by-side comparison of acyclovir and dolutegravir Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Zovirax
Tivicay
Acyclovir is an antiviral medicine. It is used to treat infections caused by certain viruses.
TRIUMEQ is a drug that contains three medicines in one pill: dolutegravir, abacavir, and lamivudine. It is used to treat HIV-1 infection in adults and children.
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.
TRIUMEQ treats HIV-1, the virus that causes AIDS. It helps to lower the amount of virus in your body. This medication can help your body fight infection and can improve your health.
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.
TRIUMEQ contains three drugs that each work differently to stop HIV from multiplying. Dolutegravir is an integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI). Abacavir and lamivudine are nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitors.
- • Malaise (feeling unwell)
- • Nausea
- • Diarrhea
- • Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
- • Headache
- • Feeling tired
- 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
- Pain 1,425
- Anxiety 1,051
- Emotional Distress 1,048
- Anhedonia 942
- Chronic Kidney Disease 701
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.
TRIUMEQ can cause serious allergic reactions. If you have a gene called HLA-B*5701, you are more likely to have an allergic reaction. You should be tested for this gene before taking TRIUMEQ. Symptoms can include fever, rash, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or stomach pain. Some people can also experience liver problems or a heart attack.
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. There is a pregnancy registry to monitor outcomes in people who take TRIUMEQ during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking TRIUMEQ during pregnancy.
Also Compare — Nearby Drugs
Compare acyclovir with
How to Read This acyclovir vs dolutegravir Comparison
acyclovir is classified in the Antiviral (Nucleoside Analog) drug class, while dolutegravir sits within the Integrase Strand Transfer 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 dolutegravir has 5,167. 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 dolutegravir — 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.