Drug of choice for herpes simplex virus infection is:
ANTIVIRAL DRUGS: CLASSI FICATION 1.Anti-Herpes virus Idoxuridine, Acyclovir, Valacyclovir, Famciclovir, Ganciclovir*, Foscarnet* 2 Anti-Retrovirus (a) Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (Nis): Zidovudine (AZT), Didanosine, Zalcitabine*, Stavudine, Lamivudine, Abaca vir (b) Nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNis): Nevirapine, Eirenz, Delavirdine* (c) Protease inhibitors: Ritonavir, Indinavir, Nelfinavir, Saquinavir, Amprenavir*, Lopinavir 3. Anti-Influenza virus Amantadine, Rimantadine* 4. NonselectiVe antiviral drugs Ribavirin, Lamivudine, Adefovir dipivoxil, Interferon a * Not yet marketed in India. (b) Nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNis): Nevirapine, Eirenz, Delavirdine* (c) Protease inhibitors: Ritonavir, Indinavir, Nelfinavir, Saquinavir, Amprenavir*, Lopinavir 3. Anti-Influenza virus Amantadine, Rimantadine* 4. Nonselective antiviral drugs Ribavirin, Lamivudine, Adefovir dipivoxil, Interferon a * Not yet marketed in India. Acyclovir: This deoxiguanosine analogue antiviral drug requires a virus specific enzyme for conversion to the active metabolite that inhibits DNA synthesis and viral replication. Acyclovir is preferentially taken up by the virus infected cells. Because of selective generation of the active inhibitor in the virus infected cell and its greater inhibitory effect on viral DNA synthesis, acyclovir has low toxicity for host cells: a several hundred-fold chemotherapeutic index has been noted. Acyclovir is active only against herpes group of viruses; H. simplex type I is most sensitive followed by H. simplex type II > varicella-zoster virus= Epstein-Barr virus; while cytomegalovirus (CMV) is practically not affected. Both H. simplex and varicella-zoster virus have been found to develop resistance to acyclovir during therapy; the former primarily due to mutants deficient in thymidine kinase activity and the latter primarily by change in specificity of virus directed enzyme so that its affinity for acyclovir is decreased. ESSENTIALS OF MEDICAL PHARMACOLOGY K.D.TRIPATHI SIXTH EDITION PAGE NO:768
Acyclovir
Zidovudine
Indinavir
Ribavarin
Chemotherapy