GNUR 294 FINAL EXAM
Pharmacotherapy of Non-HIV Viral Infections
Viruses differ from bacteria in the sense they are compromised of a few molecules
Intracellular parasites, present in many places, some very lethal, some can co-exist
The issue with viruses that make them so difficult is because they used the host cell, they are
very difficult to kill
Anti-viral drugs are the least effective
Mutate very rapidly, resistance develops because antiviral medication is geared towards
forms of the virus and it changes so rapidly and the drug becomes ineffective
Image of what happens with a particular virus
Either to the target this point or kill off the viruses or boosting the patient’s own immune
system
There is sometimes latent infections i.e. herpes
Nucleoside Analogs
o When we look drugs to the fight the viruses
o First cat.
o Topical form- not as effective
o Acutely ill i.e. immunocompromised – IV, very toxic, whenever a patient is receiving
IV form slowly and hydrated
o Does not kill or cure this virus completely
o Short half lives- given multiple times during the day
Viral Replication Inhibitors
o Oral medications
o Long half life, much effective in not having to take the drug as much
o Most effective against influenza A&B, does not cure but shorten disease process
o Need to taken 48 hours of the onset of symptoms of the flu in the order to be
effective, cannot wait to take
o The best approach of course preventing the disease
Pharmacotherapy of HIV-AIDS
Leads to opportunist infections and malignancy
Reverse transcriptase inhibitors
Intergrase inhibitors
Protease inhibitors
No cure at all, the goals are to reduce morbidity, prolong survival, improve the quality of life,
restore/preserve the immune system
HAART
o They work well
o Extremely expensive to take
o Involve SQ infections, life time of treatment
o Minimum of $20,000 a year to take
o When to start treating someone who is HIV pos
Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase inhibitors
o One of the original cats of drugs
o A lot of resistance because it has been out a long time
o Not really a first line of therapy, may be used for someone who is unresponsive to
the other drugs
Nonnucleoside Reverse Transcriptase inhibitors
o Only dosed once a day
Protease Inhibitors
o Drugs that are used to inhibit the protease assembly of the virion
o Two drugs in the prototype
Pharmacotherapy of Non-HIV Viral Infections
Viruses differ from bacteria in the sense they are compromised of a few molecules
Intracellular parasites, present in many places, some very lethal, some can co-exist
The issue with viruses that make them so difficult is because they used the host cell, they are
very difficult to kill
Anti-viral drugs are the least effective
Mutate very rapidly, resistance develops because antiviral medication is geared towards
forms of the virus and it changes so rapidly and the drug becomes ineffective
Image of what happens with a particular virus
Either to the target this point or kill off the viruses or boosting the patient’s own immune
system
There is sometimes latent infections i.e. herpes
Nucleoside Analogs
o When we look drugs to the fight the viruses
o First cat.
o Topical form- not as effective
o Acutely ill i.e. immunocompromised – IV, very toxic, whenever a patient is receiving
IV form slowly and hydrated
o Does not kill or cure this virus completely
o Short half lives- given multiple times during the day
Viral Replication Inhibitors
o Oral medications
o Long half life, much effective in not having to take the drug as much
o Most effective against influenza A&B, does not cure but shorten disease process
o Need to taken 48 hours of the onset of symptoms of the flu in the order to be
effective, cannot wait to take
o The best approach of course preventing the disease
Pharmacotherapy of HIV-AIDS
Leads to opportunist infections and malignancy
Reverse transcriptase inhibitors
Intergrase inhibitors
Protease inhibitors
No cure at all, the goals are to reduce morbidity, prolong survival, improve the quality of life,
restore/preserve the immune system
HAART
o They work well
o Extremely expensive to take
o Involve SQ infections, life time of treatment
o Minimum of $20,000 a year to take
o When to start treating someone who is HIV pos
Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase inhibitors
o One of the original cats of drugs
o A lot of resistance because it has been out a long time
o Not really a first line of therapy, may be used for someone who is unresponsive to
the other drugs
Nonnucleoside Reverse Transcriptase inhibitors
o Only dosed once a day
Protease Inhibitors
o Drugs that are used to inhibit the protease assembly of the virion
o Two drugs in the prototype
