noun
- An antiviral medication used to treat infections caused by herpes simplex virus and varicella-zoster virus.
Usage: Medical/pharmaceutical term; Also spelled aciclovir in British English
Examples
- The doctor prescribed acyclovir to treat the patient's herpes simplex infection.
- Acyclovir is commonly used to reduce the severity and duration of cold sores.
- The antiviral drug acyclovir works by inhibiting viral DNA replication.
- Patients with shingles may be given acyclovir to speed recovery.
- Acyclovir is available in oral, topical, and intravenous forms.