Comparison of Brovavir Versus Acyclovir in the Treatment of Herpes in HIV-Infected Patients

Inclusion Criteria Concurrent Medication: Allowed: * Medication for concurrent conditions (e.g., insulin, antihypertensives, bronchodilators, digoxin) or antibacterials or antifungals to treat concurrent infections at other sites or superinfection of the zoster lesion. * Anti-inflammatory, analgesic (including narcotic analgesic), or antipyretic agents. * Antidepressants and antipsychotics such as amitriptyline and/or fluphenazine. * Nerve blocks. * AZT, ddI, ddC, and amantadine. * Low-dose corticosteroids for treatment of an underlying (not zoster-related) disease. * Immune modulators without varicella-zoster virus activity (e.g., GM-CSF, gp160 vaccine). Patients must have: * HIV infection. * Localized, cutaneous herpes zoster (shingles). * Zoster-associated rash present for 3 or fewer days prior to entry. Prior Medication: Allowed: * Zidovudine. * ddI. * ddC. Exclusion Criteria Co-existing Condition: Patients with the following conditions and symptoms are excluded: * Chickenpox. * Evidence of visceral dissemination (organ involvement, i.e., brain, liver, or lung) and/or cutaneous dissemination (more than 20 vesicles in dermatomes beyond contiguous dermatomes) of zoster. * Zoster-like lesion caused by organism other than VZV (e.g., HSV, enterovirus, or Mycoplasma). * Bacterial superinfection of zoster lesion. * Zosteriform lesion previously treated with topical antiviral agents. * Acute, life-threatening opportunistic infection requiring treatment (ongoing suppressive or prophylactic maintenance therapy other than ganciclovir or foscarnet is permitted). * Concurrent severe disease that may either impair ability to take oral medication in capsule or tablet form or limit survival during the 10-day treatment period or during acute phase follow-up (28 days). * Suspected acute deterioration of renal or hepatic function. * Mental impairment that precludes ability to comply with protocol. * Any condition that would render the patient unsuitable for treatment. Concurrent Medication: Excluded during acute phase of study: * Antiviral medications other than AZT, ddI, ddC, or anti-Parkinson's drugs (i.e., amantadine). * Interferon. * Isoprinosine. * Levamisole. * Transfer factor. * Topical virucidal agents, oxidizing agents, DMSO, cell division-stimulating/healing agents, or astringents. * Topical anesthetics (such as capsaicin or xylocaine). * Topical creams or ointments that may interfere with evaluation of zoster lesions. * Cimetidine. * Fluorouracil or its derivatives, flucytosine, or cyclophosphamide (during drug administration and for 2 weeks thereafter). * High-dose corticosteroids. * Anticoagulant therapy (heparin locks and low-dose warfarin sodium permitted). * Probenecid or derivatives. * Treatment for any acute, life-threatening opportunistic infection (suppressive or prophylactic maintenance therapy other than ganciclovir or foscarnet is permitted). Use of the following drugs is discouraged during the long-term phase of the study: * Antiviral agents with VZV activity. * Immunomodulators with presumed VZV activity. * VZV immune globulin. * Capsaicin. * Cimetidine. Patients with the following prior conditions are excluded: * History of immediate hypersensitivity or serum sickness reaction or idiosyncratic reaction (such as hepatic necrosis or Stevens-Johnson syndrome) to any nucleoside analog antiviral agent or to any anticancer therapy with cytolytic agents. Prior Medication: Excluded within 1 month prior to entry: * Any investigational drugs or treatments not licensed for any indication (other than ddI or ddC). Excluded within 2 weeks prior to entry: * Any systemic antiviral therapy, including ganciclovir, foscarnet, vidarabine, acyclovir, or ribavirin. * Any antiretroviral drug other than zidovudine, ddI, and ddC. * Immune globulin (e.g., IgG, VZIG). Excluded within 72 hours prior to entry: * Cyclophosphamide. * Flucytosine. * Fluorouracil or its derivatives. Alcohol or drug abuse.