anti-viral drugs Flashcards
Do virucidal agents exist?
No - all are virustatic
Many anti-viral drugs are nucleoside analogues. What does this mean?
They interfere with nucleic acid synthesis.
What is Aciclovar used to treat?
Herpes Simplex virus and Varicella zoster virus
What are Famciclovir and Valaciclovir (better oral bio-availability than aciclovar) used to treat?
Herpes simplex virus and shingles
Which anti-herpes drug is a nucleoside analogue, active against CMV, however is toxic and given by IV infusion? (largely restricted to life/sight threatening infections in the immunocompromised)
Ganciclovir
How is valganciclovir related to ganciclovir?
It is a pro-drug of it and an oral alternative
Foscarnet
anti-herpes drug
used for some HSV, VZV, CMV infections resistant to other drugs
highly nephrotoxic
only given by IV
Cidofovir
anti-herpes drug
for CMV retinitis
What is normal practice in HIV treatment?
Combination therapy of at least 3 drugs
zidovudine, nevirapine, efavirenz, saquinavir and darunavir are all what type of anti-viral drugs?
Anti-HIV drugs
as well as two nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase drugs, what other type of drug should be used when treating HIV? (2 options)
- non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase
- protease inhibitor
Which substance is genetically engineered and used clinically to treat Hepatitis B and C?
interferon-alpha
what 3 reasons make the use of interferon-alpha limited?
low response rate
serious side effects
high cost of treatment
What is interferon -alpha attached to slow excretion and reduce treatment frequency to one a week
PEG
What can Lamivudine and Tenofovir be used for?
HIV treatment but also selected patients with Hepatitis B
