Acyclovir is an antiviral medication used in the treatment of infections caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV), including genital herpes, cold sores (herpes labialis), and shingles (herpes zoster). It belongs to the class of medications known as nucleoside analogues, which work by inhibiting the replication of the virus.
Acyclovir works by inhibiting the viral DNA polymerase enzyme, which is essential for the replication of the herpes virus. It is converted into its active form, acyclovir triphosphate, within infected cells. Acyclovir triphosphate selectively inhibits viral DNA synthesis by competing with deoxyguanosine triphosphate (dGTP) for incorporation into viral DNA, resulting in chain termination and inhibition of viral replication.
Reviews
Clear filtersThere are no reviews yet.