What does aciclovir mean?
Aciclovir is a synthetic antiviral medication used to treat infections caused by herpesviruses, including herpes simplex (cold sores and genital herpes), varicella-zoster (chickenpox and shingles), and, in serious cases, herpes simplex encephalitis. Developed in the 1970s, it was among the first antiviral drugs designed to act selectively: after being converted inside infected cells, it interferes with viral DNA synthesis, halting the virus's ability to replicate while sparing healthy cells. Aciclovir may be taken as tablets, applied as a cream, or given intravenously for severe infections. Although it does not cure herpes infections, which remain dormant in the body, it can significantly reduce the severity and duration of outbreaks. In American English the drug is usually spelled 'acyclovir', while 'aciclovir' is the standard form in Britain and internationally. Related compounds such as valaciclovir are chemically modified versions that convert into aciclovir once absorbed.
nounA synthetic antiviral medication used to treat infections caused by herpes viruses, including herpes simplex, varicella-zoster (chickenpox and shingles), and Epstein–Barr virus. It works by inhibiting viral DNA replication.
- An antiviral drug used to treat herpes simplex, varicella-zoster, and other herpesvirus infections.
"The doctor prescribed aciclovir to shorten the duration of the patient's shingles outbreak."
"She started taking aciclovir within a day of noticing the cold sore, which helped it heal faster."
"Intravenous aciclovir is the standard treatment for severe cases of encephalitis caused by herpes simplex virus."
Aciclovir was one of the first truly selective antiviral drugs ever created — it attacks virus-infected cells while leaving healthy cells almost untouched.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of aciclovir
Aciclovir is a modern pharmaceutical coinage dating from the 1970s, when the drug was developed by American scientists including Gertrude Elion, who later shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for her work on antiviral and anticancer drugs. The name combines 'acyclo-' (referring to its structure as an acyclic, or open-chain, analogue of a nucleoside) with elements derived from guanosine, the natural compound it mimics. Its sibling names — valaciclovir, ganciclovir, and penciclovir — follow the same naming pattern for related antiviral agents.
How aciclovir is actually used
Aciclovir is primarily a medical and pharmaceutical term, encountered in clinical settings, prescriptions, and health literature rather than everyday conversation. The spelling 'acyclovir' predominates in American English, while 'aciclovir' is standard in British English and much of the rest of the world. It is typically administered orally, topically, or intravenously depending on the severity and site of infection.
Easily confused with aciclovir
Aciclovir is the British/international spelling of the same drug; acyclovir is the US spelling.
Valaciclovir is a prodrug that is converted into aciclovir in the body and offers better oral absorption.