Antiviral Drugs

Question 1

Antiviral Drugs

Answer 1

• able to enter the cells that are infected with virus
• interferfere with viral nucleic acid synthesis or regulation or both
• prevent fusion process
• some stimulate the bodies immune system

Question 2

Opportunistic Infection

Answer 2

• require long term prophylaxis and anti-infective drug therapy
• Kaposi’s sarcoma is an example of an opportunistic situation

Question 3

Antiviral VS Antiretroviral

Answer 3

• antiviral drugs are used to treat infections caused by viruses other than HIV
• Antiretroviral drugs are used to treat infections caused by HIV, the virus that causes AIDS

Question 4

Acyclovir (Zovirax)

Answer 4

• antiviral drug, non HIV
• may speed up recovery, best results are usually seen when antiviral medication is started within 72 hours of symptom onset
• used to supress replication of HSV 1, HSV 2 and VZV
• oral, topical and parenteral forms
• should be administered slowly when given IV, over 1hr.
• fluid intake of 2400 unless contraindicated
• topical application may cause burning

Question 5

Amantadine hydrochloride(Dom- Amantidine)

Answer 5

• narrow antiviral spectrum, active only against influenza A
• CNS effects: insomnia, nervousness, light-headedness
• GI effects: anorexia, nausea
• contraindicated in pregancy and breastfeeding, in children younger than 12months, and in pts. with enzymetic rash

Question 6

Ganciclovir hydrochloride (Cytovene, Valcyte)

Answer 6

• used to treat infection caused by CMV
• oral and parenteral forms
• CMV retnitis
• foscarnet and cidofovir is often used to treat CNV as it has less adverse effects related to bone marrow supression

Question 7

Oseltamivir phosphate (tamiflu) and Zanamivir (Relenza)

Answer 7

• active against influenza type A and B
• reduces duration of illness
• tamiflu is oral use only, causes nausea and vomiting
• relenza is inhalation drug, causes diarrhea, nausea and sinusitis
• treatment should begin within 2 days of influenza symptom onset

Question 8

Ribavirin (Virazole)

Answer 8

• oral treatment for hepatitis C
• oral and nasal inhalation
• onhalation form is used for hosplitalized infants with resp syncytial virus infection

Question 9

Reverse transcriptase inhibitors

Answer 9

• antiretroviral drug
• block activity of the enzyme reverse transcriptase, prevnting new production of viral DNA
• nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI)
• non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)
• protase inhibitor- inhibit protase retroviral enzyme, prevnting viral replication
• fusion inhibitor- inhibit viral fusion, prevnting viral replication

Question 10

Indinavir

Answer 10

• protease inhibitor, antiretroviral
• intake without foods as it reduces absorption
• produces and increase in CD4 cell counrs, also reduces viral load
• drink with lots of fluid to reduce risk of nephrolithiasis (kidney stones)

Question 11

Zidovudine (AZT)

Answer 11

• nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor
• antiretroviral
• first anti- HIV med that delayed progression to AIDS
• effective againts maternal-newborn transmission of the virus
• dose limiting adverse effect of bone marrow supression
• used in combo with didanosine (NRTI) to avoid the bone marrow supression

Question 12

Enfuvirtide (Fuzeon)

Answer 12

• fusion inhibitor, antiretroviral
• supresses the fusion process where a virion is attached to the outer membrane of a host T cell begore entry into the cell and subsequent viral replication
• only available in injection form

Question 14

Occupational Exposure

Answer 14

tenofovir (NRTI) + lamivudine (NRTI) + raltegravir (integrase inhibitor)

Question 15

Nursing Implications

Answer 15

• handwashing before and after admin to prevent site contamination and spread infection
• wear gloves or finger cot when applying ointments to affected area