Drug	Side effects	Indication	Oral dosage	Cost (generic)*
Acyclovir (Zovirax)	Nausea, vomiting, headache, diarrhea, vertigo, myalgia, rash	Initial infection	400 mg three times daily for 7 to 10 days	$63 to 93 ($45 to 65)
			200 mg five times daily for 7 to 10 days	56 to 80 (36 to 51)
		Recurrences	400 mg three times daily for 5 days	47 (32 to 34)
			200 mg five times daily for 5 days	40 (25 to 28)
			800 mg twice daily for 5 days	60 (40 to 42)
		Suppressive therapy	400 mg twice daily	187 (129)
Famciclovir (Famvir)	Headache, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, paresthesias, pruritus	Initial infection	250 mg three times daily for 7 to 10 days	92 to 132
		Recurrences	125 mg twice daily for 5 days	40
		Suppressive therapy	250 mg twice daily	263
Valacyclovir (Valtrex)	Headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness	Initial infection	1 g twice daily for 7 to 10 days	112 to 160
		Recurrences	500 mg twice daily for 3 to 5 days	26 to 44
			1 g daily for 5 days	40
		Suppressive therapy	500 mg daily	131
			1 g daily (in patients with more than nine episodes per year)	239