acyclovir vs isavuconazonium
Side-by-side comparison of acyclovir and isavuconazonium Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Zovirax
Cresemba
Acyclovir is an antiviral medicine. It is used to treat infections caused by certain viruses.
Cresemba is an antifungal medicine. It is used to treat serious fungal infections 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.
Cresemba treats invasive aspergillosis and invasive mucormycosis. These are serious infections caused by different types of fungi. Cresemba is available as an injection for those 1 year and older. Cresemba capsules are for those 6 years and older who weigh at least 35 pounds.
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.
Cresemba belongs to a class of drugs called azole antifungals. It works by stopping the growth of the fungi. This helps your body fight off the infection.
- • Malaise (feeling unwell)
- • Nausea
- • Diarrhea
- • Nausea
- • Vomiting
- • Diarrhea
- • Headache
- • Changes in liver tests
- 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 a condition it is not approved for 926
- Death 310
- Feeling sick to your stomach 143
- Fever with low white blood cell count 135
- Medicine not working 125
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.
Cresemba can cause serious liver problems. Your doctor will check your liver function before and during treatment. Cresemba can also cause allergic reactions. Tell your doctor right away if you have any signs of a reaction, like trouble breathing or skin rash. Cresemba can harm an unborn baby. Use birth control while taking this medicine.
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.
Cresemba can harm your unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Do not breastfeed while taking Cresemba.
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How to Read This acyclovir vs isavuconazonium Comparison
acyclovir is classified in the Antiviral (Nucleoside Analog) drug class, while isavuconazonium sits within the Azole 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 isavuconazonium has 1,639. 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 isavuconazonium — 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.