acyclovir vs dolutegravir/lamivudine
Side-by-side comparison of acyclovir and dolutegravir/lamivudine Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Zovirax
Dovato
Acyclovir is an antiviral medicine. It is used to treat infections caused by certain viruses.
Dovato is a complete HIV-1 treatment that combines two medicines into one tablet. It is used for adults and adolescents who weigh at least 55 pounds.
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.
Dovato is used to treat HIV-1 infection in adults and adolescents (12 years and older, weighing at least 55 pounds). It can be used if you have never taken HIV-1 medicines before. It can also be used to replace your current HIV-1 medicines if your virus is under control (HIV-1 RNA less than 50 copies/mL) and you have not had treatment failure or resistance to the medicines in Dovato.
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.
Dovato contains two drugs: dolutegravir and lamivudine. Dolutegravir blocks HIV-1 integrase, an enzyme the virus needs to multiply. Lamivudine blocks reverse transcriptase, another enzyme HIV-1 needs to make copies of itself.
- • Malaise (feeling unwell)
- • Nausea
- • Diarrhea
- • Headache
- • Nausea
- • Diarrhea
- • Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
- • Tiredness (fatigue)
- 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.
If you have both HIV-1 and hepatitis B, you should be tested for hepatitis B before starting Dovato. Using Dovato can cause the hepatitis B virus to become resistant to lamivudine. Stopping Dovato can also cause a severe worsening of hepatitis B. Your liver function should be checked regularly.
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.
There is a pregnancy registry to monitor outcomes in people exposed to Dovato during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. There may be a risk of neural tube defects if dolutegravir is taken at the time of conception.
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How to Read This acyclovir vs dolutegravir/lamivudine Comparison
acyclovir is classified in the Antiviral (Nucleoside Analog) drug class, while dolutegravir/lamivudine sits within the Integrase Inhibitor / NRTI Combination 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/lamivudine 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/lamivudine — 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.