acyclovir sodium

Acyclovir sodium is the sodium salt form of acyclovir, a synthetic purine nucleoside analogue with potent antiviral activity against herpes simplex viruses (HSV-1 and HSV-2) and varicella-zoster virus (VZV). It acts as a prodrug that requires phosphorylation by viral thymidine kinase to its active form, acyclovir triphosphate. This active metabolite competitively inhibits viral DNA polymerase and incorporates into the growing viral DNA chain, leading to premature chain termination and inhibition of viral replication. The sodium salt formulation is primarily used for intravenous administration in severe or systemic infections, such as herpes simplex encephalitis, neonatal herpes, and infections in immunocompromised patients.

Brand names

Zovirax

Other names

acyclovir sodium saltacycloguanosine sodium