Antiviral Medications
...and the Side Effects They Cause

Antiviral medications are used to treat viral infections and viral infections run the gamut. From the common cold to sexually transmitted diseases, viruses and thus, viral infections, can be transmitted very easily. These infections, more often than not, involve the nose, throat and upper airways; they are most commonly contracted by swallowing or being inhaled, getting bitten by insects and/or parasites and also through sexual contact.

Some of the more common viral infections are listed below along with the antivirals that are used to treat them. They are as follows:

The flu:

• Tamiflu (Oseltamivir)
• Relenza (Zanamivir)
• Flu vaccine, for prevention

Herpes & Varicella infections: these include shingles (herpes zoster), genital herpes (herpes simplex), cold sores (herpes labialis), chickenpox (varicella zoster), etc.

• Valtrex (Valacyclovir)
• Zovirax (Acyclovir)
• Famvir (Famciclovir)

Epstein Barr Virus Infections: the most common type of this particular viral infection is mononucleosis i.e. mono, the kissing disease

• No antivirals are available to treat this but it is a viral infection and I thought that was worth mentioning

Hepatitis virus infections: including Hepatitis A, B and C varieties

Cytomegalovirus infections:

• Cytogam (Human cytomegalovirus immune globulin)
• Valcyte, Cytovene (Ganciclovir)

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV): this virus is responsible for causing warts which include common warts, plantar warts, genital warts and flat warts.

• Aldara (Imiquimod)
• Blenoxane (Bleomycin)
• Retinoids
• Compound W, Occlusal-HP (salicylic acid)

HIV and AIDS are also viral infections but they will be covered in a separate section.

The art of medicine consists of amusing the
patient while nature cures the disease
- Voltaire

This website is updated quite frequently (as things change so rapidly in the world of pharmaceuticals), so please subscribe to our monthly video newsletter, The Armchair Pharmacist. It tells you each month about the new information that has been added to the site as well additional news on the latest goings-on in the world of medications and all things pharma.

Return from Antiviral Medications to Home Page

May 1, 2009

This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information:verify here.