Antiviral Drugs

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Antiviral drugs

Definition

Antiviral drugs are medicines that kill or weaken viruses , infectious agents that can only live and reproduce inside living host cells.

**Antiviral drugs**
Brand name	Generic name
(Illustration by GGS Information Services. Cengage Learning, Gale)
Copegus, Rebetol	ribavirin
Cytovene	ganciclovir
Famvir	famciclovir
Flumadine	rimantadine hydrochloride
Foscavir	foscarnet sodium
Relenza	zanamivir
Symmetrel	amantadine hydrochloride
Synagis	palivizumab
Tamiflu	oseltamivir phosphate
Valcyte	valganciclovir
Valtrex	valacyclovir hydrochloride
Vistide	cidofovir
Zovirax	acyclovir

Purpose

For seniors, antivirals are usually used to treat two conditions: influenza (flu) and Shingles (Herpes Zoster).

Influenza (flu)

Flu can produce a variety of symptoms ranging from mild, with low-grade fever, aching muscles, cough and sore throat, to severe, with high fever, shaking chills, pneumonia and even death .

People who are chronically ill or undergoing chemotherapy are more susceptible to flu complications.

Older seniors are more prone to complications from the flu.

Annual vaccination is the best way of preventing and controlling flu.

Flu viruses change and can become resistant to medications as they spread around the world, so vaccination and antiviral drug therapy may be only partially effective in reducing the severity of the flu.

Antiviral medications are used in three important situations: to treat the flu and reduce its severity, to prevent flu in high-risk groups living closely together, like in nursing homes , and to protect people exposed to someone with the flu.

Shingles (herpes zoster)

Shingles is a usually painful outbreak of rash, sometimes with blisters, on the skin that is caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox.

Shingles occurs in people who have had chicken pox as children. The virus appears to lie dormant in the body for many years.

The first signs of Shingles may vary from numbness and itching to tingling and burning

Shingles rash is usually only on one side and can appear as a band or line anywhere on the head, chest or back.

The pain of Shingles can be mild or intense and is often worsened by light touch or even a slight breeze on the involved area.

Antiviral drugs, including acyclovir, valcyclovir, or famcyclovir, when given early, can reduce the severity and duration and perhaps lessen the possibility of painful after-effects of Shingles.

Shingles rash and pain usually lasts around four weeks.

Seniors who have shingles can pass the virus, causing chicken pox, to children who haven't had the disease.

Postherpetic neuralgia can be a painful aftereffect of Shingles that continues after the blisters and rash have disappeared.

Other drugs like corticosteroids, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and topical anesthetics are also used to treat postherpetic neuritis.

VZV vaccine (Zostavax) is available for seniors to reduce the risk, severity, and complications of Shingles.