acyclovir vs sofosbuvir/velpatasvir
Side-by-side comparison of acyclovir and sofosbuvir/velpatasvir Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Zovirax
Epclusa
Acyclovir is an antiviral medicine. It is used to treat infections caused by certain viruses.
Vosevi is a drug that combines three medicines into one tablet. It is used to treat hepatitis C in adults who have already tried other treatments.
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.
Vosevi treats chronic hepatitis C (HCV) infection in adults. It is for those without cirrhosis or with compensated cirrhosis (Child-Pugh A). You can use it if you have genotype 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 HCV. You must have already been treated with a hepatitis C medicine containing an NS5A inhibitor, or sofosbuvir without an NS5A inhibitor (for genotypes 1a or 3).
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.
Vosevi contains sofosbuvir, velpatasvir, and voxilaprevir. Sofosbuvir blocks a protein called NS5B polymerase that the hepatitis C virus needs to multiply. Velpatasvir blocks the NS5A protein, and voxilaprevir blocks the NS3/4A protease protein, both of which the virus also needs.
- • Malaise (feeling unwell)
- • Nausea
- • Diarrhea
- • Headache
- • Fatigue (feeling tired)
- • Diarrhea
- • Nausea (feeling sick to your stomach)
- 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
- Feeling tired 2,307
- The medicine is not working 1,928
- Hepatitis C infection 1,734
- Headache 1,639
- Feeling sick to your stomach 1,386
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.
Vosevi can cause Hepatitis B to become active again if you have had it in the past. This can cause serious liver problems, including liver failure and death. Before starting Vosevi, your doctor will test you for Hepatitis B. They will also monitor you during and after treatment.
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.
It is not known if Vosevi can harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known if Vosevi passes into breast milk, so discuss this with your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
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How to Read This acyclovir vs sofosbuvir/velpatasvir Comparison
acyclovir is classified in the Antiviral (Nucleoside Analog) drug class, while sofosbuvir/velpatasvir sits within the NS5B/NS5A Inhibitor (HCV) 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 sofosbuvir/velpatasvir has 8,994. 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 sofosbuvir/velpatasvir — 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.