 A PARTICLE composed of a piece of DNA or

RNA
 Must enter a human cell to survive and
replicate
 Are released in response to viral invasion of a
cell to prevent viral replication.
 Can now be genetically engineered
PREVENTION
IS
BETTER
THAN
CURE
 Amantadine (Symmetrel)
 Rimantadine (Flumadine)
 Oseltamivir (Tamiflu)
 Zanamivir (Relenza)
 Use Diskhaler device
 Ribavirin (Virazole)
 teratogenic; pregnancy category X
THERAPEUTIC ACTIONS
NOT KNOWN. May prevent shredding of viral coat
INDICATIONS
Influenza A and Respiratory viral infections
CONTRAINDICATIONS/CAUTIONS
Known allergy, hepatic and renal dysfunction, pregnancy and lactation

DRUG-DRUG INTERACTIONS
Rimantadine/amatadine = atropine-effect (↑Anticholinergic effects;)
aspirin/acetaminophen – loss of effectiveness
 Acyclovir (Zovirax)
 Famciclovir (Famvir)
 Cidofovir (Vistide)
 Foscarnet (Foscavir)
 Ganciclovir (Cytovene)
 Valacyclovir (Valtrex)
 Metabolized to acyclovir
 Valgancyclovir (Valcyte)
 A prodrug converted to ganciclovir
THERAPEUTIC ACTIONS
inhibit viral DNA replication by competing with viral substances to form shorter, non-
effective DNA chains, with little effects on host cells
INDICATIONS
for herpes simplex, herpes zoster, and cytomegalovirus
CONTRAINDICATIONS/CAUTIONS
Not used during pregnancy or lactation
With known allergies to antiviral agents
Not for patients <18 y/o

DRUG-DRUG INTERACTIONS
+ zidovudine = sleepiness
+ aminoglycoside = ↑nephrotoxicity
 HIV attacks helper T cells (CD4 cells)
 RNA strand virus
 It uses reverse transcriptase to copy the RNA
and produce a double-stranded viral DNA.
 It uses nucleosides to synthesis its DNA
strand.
 Proteases is used by virus to become mature.
 Non nucleoside & Nucleoside Reverse
Transcriptase Inhibitors
 Protease inhibitors
 Fusion inhibitors
 CCR5 coreceptor antagonits
 Integrase inhibitors
 Delavirdine (Rescriptor)
 Efavirenz (Sustiva)
 Nevirapine (Viramune)
 Therapeutic action:
 Bind directly to HIV reverse transcriptase.
 They prevent the transfer of information that
would allow the virus to carry on the formation of
viral DNA.
 These agents are indicated for the treatment
of patients w/ documented AIDS/ARC who
have decreased numbers of T cells an
evidence of increased opportunistic
infections.
 Contraindications:
 Pregnancy
 Lactation
 Children

 Adverse effects:
 GI = dry mouth, constipation, diarrhea, nausea,
abdominal pain, and dyspepsia.
 These are drugs that compete w/ naturally
occurring nucleosides w/in a human cell that
the virus would need to develop.
 Abacavir (Ziagen)
 Didanosine (Videx)
 Emtricitabine (Emtriva)
 Lamivudine (Epivir)
 Stavudine (Zerit XR)
 Tenofovir (Viread)
 Zalcitabine (Hivid)
 Zidovudine (Retrovir, Aztec)
 Therapeutic action:
 Compete w/ naturally occurring nucleosides, w/c
will be used by the virus to build the DNA chain.
 These nucleoside however, lack a substance
needed to extend the DNA chain.
 Used as a part of combination therapy for the
treatment of HIV.
 Adverse effects:
 Serious-to-fatal hypersensitivity
 Pancreatitis, hepatomegaly, and neurological
problems
 Bone marrow depression
 Atazanavir (Reyataz)
 Fosamprenavir (Lexiva)
 Indinavir (Crixivan)
 Lopinavir (Kaletra)
 Nelfinavir (Viracept)
 Ritonavir (Norvir)
 Saquinavir (Fortovase)
 Tipranavir (Aptivus)
 Contraindication:
 Saquinavir = is the only agent that has been
shown to be teratogenic.
 Prevents the fusion of the virus within the
human cellular membrane, w/c prevents the
HIV virus from entering the cell.

 Enfuvirtide (Fuzeon)
 It blocks the receptor site to w/c the HIV virus
needs to interact to enter the cell.
 Maraviroc (Selzentry)
 Inhibits the activity of the virus-specific
enzyme integrase, an encoded enzyme
needed for viral replication.
 Raltegravir (Isentress)
 Monitor hepatic and renal function
 Ensure full course of treatment
 Provide safety precautions
 Health teachings
 Adefovir (Hepsera)
 Entecavir (Baraclude)
 Telbivudine (Tyzeka)
 Inhibits reverse transcriptase in the hepatitis
B virus and can cause DNA chain termination
 Contraindication:
 Known allergy
 Lactation
 Renal impairment
 Severe liver disease
 Pregnancy
 Adverse effects:
 Hepatomegaly with steatosis
 Hepatitis B exacerbation when drugs are stopped.
 Docosanol (Abreva)
 Ganciclovir (Vitrasert)
 Imiquimod (Aldara)
 Penciclovir (Denavir)
 Trifluridine (Viroptic)
 Act on viruses by interfering w/ normal viral
replication and metabolic processes.
 Contraindication:
 Allergy
 Adverse effects:
 Local burning
 Stinging
 discomfort