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acyclovir vs tizanidine

Side-by-side comparison of acyclovir and tizanidine. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

minor Known Drug Interaction

7.2 Moderate or Weak CYP1A2 Inhibitors Concomitant use of tizanidine with moderate or weak CYP1A2 inhibitors (e.g., zileuton, antiarrhythmics [amiodarone, mexiletine, propafenone, and verapamil], cimetidine, famotidine, oral contraceptives, acyclovir, and ticlopidine) should be avoided.

Recommendation: You should avoid taking these two medications together to prevent serious side effects.

Drug Class
acyclovir Antiviral (Nucleoside Analog)
tizanidine Central Alpha-2 Agonist (Muscle Relaxant)
Type
acyclovir Prescription
tizanidine Prescription
Summary
acyclovir

Acyclovir is an antiviral medicine. It is used to treat infections caused by certain viruses.

tizanidine

Tizanidine is a muscle relaxant. It is used to treat spasticity, which is when your muscles are tight or stiff.

What It Treats
acyclovir

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.

tizanidine

Tizanidine is used to treat spasticity in adults. Spasticity is a condition where your muscles become stiff or tight. This medicine helps to relax your muscles and reduce the stiffness. It can help you move and feel more comfortable.

How It Works
acyclovir

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.

tizanidine

Tizanidine works by affecting certain chemicals in your brain. It is an alpha-2 adrenergic agonist. This action helps to reduce muscle spasms and tightness.

Common Side Effects
acyclovir
  • Malaise (feeling unwell)
  • Nausea
  • Diarrhea
tizanidine
  • Dry mouth
  • Sleepiness
  • Weakness
  • Dizziness
FAERS Reports
acyclovir
  • Tiredness 7,612
  • Diarrhea 7,064
  • Lung infection 5,474
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 5,330
  • Fever 4,719
tizanidine
  • Tiredness 1,693
  • Aches 1,615
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 1,530
  • Falling down 1,318
  • Head pain 1,289
Serious Warnings
acyclovir

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.

tizanidine

Tizanidine can cause low blood pressure, liver problems, and hallucinations. It can also make you very sleepy, especially if you drink alcohol or take other medicines that cause sleepiness. Your doctor should check your liver function before you start taking tizanidine and one month after you reach your highest dose. Do not stop taking tizanidine suddenly, as this can cause withdrawal symptoms.

Pregnancy
acyclovir

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.

tizanidine

Tizanidine may harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if tizanidine passes into breast milk, so talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This acyclovir vs tizanidine Comparison

acyclovir is classified in the Antiviral (Nucleoside Analog) drug class, while tizanidine sits within the Central Alpha-2 Agonist (Muscle Relaxant) 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 30,199 submissions while tizanidine has 7,445. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to acyclovir blocks a specific liver enzyme that breaks down tizanidine. this causes the muscle relaxant to stay in your body at much higher levels, which can be dangerous.. 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 tizanidine - 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.