Chapter 30 - Dec 17_a3b38fcfd7a63c16a28758ad625ecc0a

Learn the terminology associated with treatments for viral infections.
Describe the mechanism of virus entry into cells.
Describe antiviral resistance.
List and categorize antiviral agents.
Describe mechanism of action for antiviral agents.
List common endings for antiviral agents.
Identify significant drug look-alike/sound-alike issues.
Identify warning labels and precautionary messages associated with antiviral agents.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS): Most severe form of HIV infection defined by a CD4 cell count below 200 cells/mm3 or an AIDS-defining illness.
Antiretroviral: Medication that interferes with replication of retroviruses like HIV.
Antiviral: Medication that inhibits viral replication.
Antiviral Resistance: Virus's ability to overcome antiviral suppression.
CD4 T Lymphocyte: White blood cells important for fighting infections.
COVID-19: Contagious viral illness caused by SARS-CoV-2.
Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART): Combination of three or more antiretroviral medications.
Virion: Infectious particle of a virus; a virus in its complete form.

The lifecycle of a virus includes attachment to a host cell, entry into the cell, taking over the host's machinery to replicate, and ultimately killing the host cell to release new viral particles for further infection.

Examples include the common cold, warts, HIV, smallpox, hepatitis, HPV, and EBV.

Antiviral medications function by inhibiting viral replication rather than destroying the virus, therefore slowing the reproduction rate.

The stage of illness, dosage used, the ability of the virus to penetrate the central nervous system, its capability to remain latent, and the development of antiviral resistance all affect treatment efficacy.

Antivirals can interfere with:
- Virus attachment to host cells.
- Virus penetration and uncoating.
- Viral regulatory proteins and assembly.
- Release of new viruses from host cells.

Key inhibitions occur at:
- Reverse transcriptase, transamidase, and other enzymes.
- Viral transcription processes and production of mRNA.

Adamantanes block the uncoating of the influenza A virus which is crucial for viral release and infection of new cells. Neuraminidase inhibitors block the release of new virions from the surface of the host cell.

Be cautious with similar names: Amantadine vs Rimantadine, Tamiflu vs Theraflu, etc.

Adamantanes: Anxiety, drowsiness, gastrointestinal upset, and kidney damage.
Neuraminidase Inhibitors: Nausea, vomiting, respiratory issues.

Key pharmacological agents include interferons and nucleoside analogs like Entecavir, Lamivudine, Ribavirin, along with protease inhibitors such as Boceprevir and Telaprevir.

Interferons activate enzymes that inhibit uncoating and mRNA synthesis, while nucleoside analogs focus on hindering reverse transcriptase.

COVID-19 has severely impacted global health, requiring strict infection prevention measures.
Treatment options include Remdesivir, monoclonal antibodies, and Paxlovid.

Treatment involves NRTIs, NNRTIs, Protease inhibitors, and includes HAART for better viral suppression and management.

Warnings include specific storage instructions, potential side effects, and guidelines for administration methods, such as taking certain medications with or without food or on an empty stomach.