acyclovir

American  

[ey-sahy-kloh-veer, -kluh-] / eɪˈsaɪ kloʊˌvɪər, -klə- /

noun

Pharmacology.

1. a crystalline compound, C 18 H 11 N 5 O 3 , used as an antiviral drug in the treatment of herpes infections.

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Etymology

Origin of acyclovir

1980–85; perhaps acyclo(guanosine) an earlier name for the compound ( a- ⁶ + cyclo- + guanosine a nucleotide) + vir(us) or vir(al)

Example Sentences

Fortunately, there are treatments available such as antiviral medications like acyclovir or famciclovir, in conjunction with corticosteroids.

From Salon • Jun. 14, 2022

For herpes, drugs such as acyclovir can reduce the number and duration of episodes of active viral disease, during which patients develop viral lesions in their skin cells.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

My internist, who wasn’t familiar with acyclovir until I told her about it, will not give me a refill without my calling for it.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 10, 2021

Upon successful treatment with oral acyclovir, the biology professor “said he felt better about himself.”

From Slate • Dec. 2, 2019

In 2011, Itzhaki and her colleagues showed that the anti-herpes drug acyclovir reduces levels of amyloid beta in cell cultures that were infected with HSV-1.

From Scientific American • Mar. 13, 2019