Antivirals

Antiviral medications work by keeping different viruses from reproducing in the human body.

For example, they are taken to treat influenza and similar conditions. Interferons are the man-made versions of a naturally occurring substance produced by body cells, and their use helps patients fight viral infections.

There are many effective antiviral medications, but the right choice should be made by qualified doctors.

1. Acyclovir is taken by patients to treat blisters and sores caused by herpes, chickenpox and shingles. It prevents their outbreaks and helps users relieve unpleasant symptoms.
2. Ganciclovir is used to prevent and treat cytomegalovirus that infects body cells, thus, causing them to be enlarged.
3. Vidarabine is a popular medicine that treats different eye viral infections, but it may result in increased sensitivity to sunlight.
4. Ribavirin is taken with interferon to treat hepatitis C, because it works by stopping this virus from spreading in the body.

Finally, there are other types of antiviral medications divided into topical and systemic. The latter ones are taken by mouth in their pill form and intravenously.