Common side effects include nausea and diarrhea.[6] Potentially serious side effects include kidney problems and low platelets.[6] Greater care is recommended in those with poor liver or kidney function.[6] It is generally considered safe for use in pregnancy with no harm having been observed.[6][8] It appears to be safe during breastfeeding.[9][10] Aciclovir is a nucleoside analogue that mimics guanosine.[6] It works by decreasing the production of the virus's DNA.[6]
^ abcdefghi"Acyclovir". The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Archived from the original on 2015-01-05. Retrieved Jan 1, 2015.
^Rafailidis PI, Mavros MN, Kapaskelis A, Falagas ME (November 2010). "Antiviral treatment for severe EBV infections in apparently immunocompetent patients". Journal of Clinical Virology. 49 (3): 151–157. doi:10.1016/j.jcv.2010.07.008. PMID20739216.
^Hamilton R (2015). Tarascon Pocket Pharmacopoeia 2015 Deluxe Lab-Coat Edition. Jones & Bartlett Learning. p. 59. ISBN9781284057560.
^"Acyclovir use while Breastfeeding". Mar 10, 2015. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2016. Even with the highest maternal dosages, the dosage of acyclovir in milk is only about 1% of a typical infant dosage and would not be expected to cause any adverse effects in breastfed infants
^World Health Organization (2019). World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 21st list 2019. Geneva: World Health Organization. hdl:10665/325771. WHO/MVP/EMP/IAU/2019.06. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
^World Health Organization (2021). World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 22nd list (2021). Geneva: World Health Organization. hdl:10665/345533. WHO/MHP/HPS/EML/2021.02.