acyclovir
noun
acy·clo·vir
(ˌ)ā-ˈsī-klō-ˌvir 
: a cyclic synthetic nucleoside C8H11N5O3 used especially to treat the symptoms of chicken pox, shingles, and the genital form of herpes simplex
Examples of acyclovir in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
If you’ve been diagnosed with shingles, your health care provider may recommend an antiviral medication like acyclovir, valacyclovir, or famciclovir, according to the CDC.
—
Korin Miller, SELF, 4 June 2025
But doctors usually recommend that patients take a prescription oral antiviral medication, such as acyclovir, valacyclovir or famciclovir.
—Erica Sweeney, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2025
Antivirals: Medications like Zovirax (acyclovir) or Famvir (famciclovir) can help manage herpes or shingles outbreaks.
—Susan Bard, Verywell Health, 27 Sep. 2024
There are a variety of genital and oral herpes treatments that can help prevent outbreaks, alleviate symptoms, and lower the risk of transmission, including antiviral medication like valacyclovir and acyclovir, acyclovir cream for cold sores, lidocaine pain cream, Cover Up!
—Danielle Sinay, Glamour, 5 Mar. 2024
Taken daily, drugs like acyclovir (Zovirax) and valacyclovir (Valtrex) can significantly reduce the risk of herpes transmission—but not 100%.
—Amanda Gardner, Health, 3 Sep. 2023
Antiviral medications: Antiviral medicines like acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir can treat shingles, shorten the length and severity of the illness, and minimize a patient’s chances of developing complications, Szema said.
—Alyssa Hui, Verywell Health, 25 May 2023
If caught early, there are antiviral medications, including acyclovir, valacyclovir and famciclovir, that can shorten the length and severity of the illness.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 10 Mar. 2023
Suspecting varicella-zoster, Grant had already prescribed acyclovir, an antiviral remedy.
—Claire Panosian Dunavan, Discover Magazine, 15 Oct. 2012
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Korin Miller, SELF, 4 June 2025
But doctors usually recommend that patients take a prescription oral antiviral medication, such as acyclovir, valacyclovir or famciclovir.
—Erica Sweeney, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2025
Antivirals: Medications like Zovirax (acyclovir) or Famvir (famciclovir) can help manage herpes or shingles outbreaks.
—Susan Bard, Verywell Health, 27 Sep. 2024
There are a variety of genital and oral herpes treatments that can help prevent outbreaks, alleviate symptoms, and lower the risk of transmission, including antiviral medication like valacyclovir and acyclovir, acyclovir cream for cold sores, lidocaine pain cream, Cover Up!
—Danielle Sinay, Glamour, 5 Mar. 2024
Taken daily, drugs like acyclovir (Zovirax) and valacyclovir (Valtrex) can significantly reduce the risk of herpes transmission—but not 100%.
—Amanda Gardner, Health, 3 Sep. 2023
Antiviral medications: Antiviral medicines like acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir can treat shingles, shorten the length and severity of the illness, and minimize a patient’s chances of developing complications, Szema said.
—Alyssa Hui, Verywell Health, 25 May 2023
If caught early, there are antiviral medications, including acyclovir, valacyclovir and famciclovir, that can shorten the length and severity of the illness.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 10 Mar. 2023
Suspecting varicella-zoster, Grant had already prescribed acyclovir, an antiviral remedy.
—Claire Panosian Dunavan, Discover Magazine, 15 Oct. 2012
Cite this Entry
“Acyclovir.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acyclovir. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
acyclovir
noun
acy·clo·vir
ˌā-ˈsī-klō-ˌvir
: a cyclic nucleoside C8H11N5O3 used especially to treat shingles, genital herpes, and chicken pox see zovirax
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