Comparing Acyclovir vs Prednisone
Acyclovir Remove Acyclovir from your drug comparison | Prednisone Remove Prednisone from your drug comparison |
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Acyclovir Remove Acyclovir from your drug comparison | Prednisone Remove Prednisone from your drug comparison | ||||||||||||||||
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Acyclovir is an antiviral drug that helps treat chickenpox, genital herpes, and shingles infections. It is most effective when started within 48 hours of symptom onset. Prescribed for Herpes Simplex,... View more |
Prednisone effectively controls inflammation and an overactive immune system but may not be suitable for everybody. Long-term use is limited by potentially severe side effects such as adrenal... View more |
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Prescription only |
Prescription only |
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Ratings & ReviewsRecent helpful reviews |
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8.3
For Herpes Simplex: I became very irritated down there to the point it hurt to go to the bathroom I schedule an appointment for the doctor and they told me I had a yeast infection I then noticed bumps down there and they tested for HSV2 (herpes simplex 2) came back positive. Currently day 3 of acyclovir and I am so happy to almost be back to myself. The pain I went through was unbearable... had to call out of work several times because I could barely walk. We will see how this medicine works for me overtime |
7.7
For Inflammatory Conditions: My mother has been on prednisone for almost four years for polumyalgia/rheumatica. We found out recently that the reason she was in such horrible back pain and could hardly walk was the extended use of prednisone. The MRI showed she had actual cracks in her spine. We are still in shock. This cannot be reversed. Even though people feel fine and really on top of the world the end result is devastating. So now we are dealing with even more pain not even associated with Polymyalgia. She will never recover from this. Everyone is different, but please look at the cons of the medicine before taking. Beware! For Inflammatory Conditions: I took prednisone 20mg for 3 years for Autoimmune Hepatitis and it definitely helped bring down my AST/ALT. I even saw regression of cirrhosis (by fibroscan). Side effects included increased appetite, weight gain (20lb max), moon face, hair started growing curly instead of straight, more severe infections (especially GI), and trouble regulating emotions. I didn't complain though, as I knew it was keeping me alive! |
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Drug Class |
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Side Effects |
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See the full acyclovir side effects document. |
See the full prednisone side effects document. |
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Pricing and Coupons* Prices are without insurance |
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View all acyclovir prices |
View all prednisone prices |
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Generic Availability |
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Yes (this medicine) |
Yes (this medicine) |
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Dosage Form(s) Available |
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Brand Names |
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Sitavig, Zovirax | Rayos | ||||||||||||||||
Half LifeThe half-life of a drug is the time taken for the plasma concentration of a drug to reduce to half its original value. |
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4 hours |
36 hours |
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CSA Schedule**View glossary of terms. |
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Not a controlled drug
Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act. |
Not a controlled drug
Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act. |
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Pregnancy Category |
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Category B
No proven risk in humans
See the full Pregnancy Warnings document. |
Category C
Risk cannot be ruled out
Excluding First Trimester
Category D
Positive evidence of risk
First Trimester See the full Pregnancy Warnings document. |
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FDA Alerts |
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N/A |
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Drug Interactions |
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A total of 54 drugs are known to interact with acyclovir:
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A total of 495 drugs are known to interact with prednisone:
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Alcohol/Food/Lifestyle Interactions |
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No known alcohol/food interactions. This does not necessarily mean no interactions exist. Always consult your healthcare provider. |
No known alcohol/food interactions. This does not necessarily mean no interactions exist. Always consult your healthcare provider. |
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Disease Interactions |
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First Approval Date |
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January 25, 1985 |
February 21, 1955 |
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WADA ClassView World Anti-Doping Agency classifications. |
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N/A |
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More Information |
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Consumer Resources |
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Professional Resources |
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Related Treatment Guide |
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** The Controlled Substances Act (CSA) schedule information displayed applies to substances regulated under federal law. There may be variations in CSA schedules between individual states.
Further information
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.
For Herpes Simplex: I used to get cold sores four or five times a year, sometimes more often (especially when I was dealing with the stress of college). They would appear at the most frustrating times! I tried a bunch of alternative remedies, per the recommendations of friends and family, including L-lysine and tea tree oil. I even found myself putting nail polish remover on my lips (word to the wise: don't do that). Finally, I explained to a doctor how often I was getting outbreaks and how bad they were, and they prescribed 200mg of acyclovir a day as a suppressant. It didn't seem to do anything; the cold sores kept coming. Then, another doctor upped my dose to 400mg twice a day. I didn't get a cold sore for almost five years!