Anti-Viral Drugs Flashcards
Are there currently any virucidal (kill the virus) agents?
No
All anti-viral drugs virustatic (inhibit growth and/or replication)
What are the most commonly used Anti-Herpes virus drugs?
Aciclovir Famciclovir Valaciclovir Ganciclovir Valganciclovir Foscarnet Cidofovir
Aciclovir
Active against Herpes simplex virus (HSV) and Varicella zoster virus (VZV)
Famciclovir and valacicolvir
Oral agents related to aciclovir but with better oral bio-availability.
Used for treatment of HSV and shingles.
Ganciclovir
Active against CMV.
However it is toxic.
Administered by IV infusion. Its use is largely restricted to treating life or sight threatening infections in the immunocomprimised.
Valganciclovir
Oral alternative to Ganciclovir
Bone marrow toxicity necessitates close blood count monitoring.
Foscarnet
Active against some HSV, VSV and CMV infections resistant to the nucleoside analogues.
It is highly nephrotoxic and can only be given intravenously.
Cidofovir
Used for CMV retinitis when other anti-viral drugs are inappropriate.
What is a nucleoside analogue?
An anti-viral drug that interferes with nucleic acid syntheses.
What are the most commonly used Anti-HIV drugs?
Saquinavir
Nevirapine
Zidovudine
How is HIV treated?
Combination with at least three drugs is now normal practice.
Drugs are selected which are active on at least two different stages of HIV replication.
What drugs are commonly used for Chronic Hepatitis B and C?
Interferon-a
ribavarin
Lamivudine
Adefovir dipivoxil
Interferon-a
Interferon-a is given by subcutaneous injection to treat selected chronic hepatitis B and C infections.
Low response rate, serious side effects and high cost of treatment have limited its use.
Ribavarin
Another nuceloside analogue.
Occasionally used for the treatment of severe Respiratory syncytical virus (RSV) infections. However, it must be inhaled as a fine spray to reach the sit of infection in the lungs, administration is difficult.
Ribavarin has been found to reduce mortality in Lass fever.
Daily oral ribavarin with subcutaneous injections of interferon-a is a common initial treatment for chronic hepatitis C.
Lamivudine and adefovir dipivoxil
Used mainly for HIV treatment, but with this nucleoside analogue and adefovir dipivoxil it is suitiable for selected patients with hepatitis B.
An advantage of interferon-a is that these drugs are given orally.
