It is prescribed mainly for genital herpes, but chemical relatives have value against other herpesvirus infections, such as shingles caused by varicella zoster and inflammation of the retina caused by cytomegalovirus.

• 其处方主要针对生殖器疱疹，但类似的化学药物对于其他疱疹病毒的感染，像是水痘带状疱疹病毒引起的带状疱疹，以及巨细胞病毒引起的视网膜发炎等，都相当有潜力。