Viral Infections: Drug Treatment

Cytomegalovirus (CMV): retinitis, colitis, esophagitis
  • Drug of choice:
    • ganciclovir (DHPG, Cytovene);Vitrasert implants
  • Alternative drugs
    • foscarnet (Foscavir) or
    • cidofovir (Vistide) or
    • fomivirsen (Vitravene)
Chronic Hepatitis B (HBV)
  • Drugs of choice:
    • lamivudine (Epivir, 3TC)
    • interferon alfa-2b (Intron A)
  
Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV)
  • Drugs of choice:
    • interferon alfa-2b + Ribavirin (Rebetreon)
    • interferon alfa-2b (Intron A)
    • interferon alfa-2a (Roferon A)
    • interferon alfa con-1 (Infergen)
  
Influenza A and B Virus
  • Drugs of choice:
    • Zanamivir (Relenza)
    • Oseltamivir (Tamiflu)
  
Influenza A virus
  • Drug of choice:
    • Rimantadine (Flumadine)
  • Alternative drug:
    • Amantidine (Symmetrel)

 

Respiratory Syncytial Virus
  • Drug of choice:
    • Ribavirin (Virazole)
  
Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)
Orolabial herpes (immunocompetent patient): recurrence Drug of choice:
  • penciclovir (Denavir)
  
Genital herpes: first episode Drug of choice:
  • acyclovir (Zovirax)
 Alternative drugs:
  • famciclovir (Famvir) {not of FDA-approved for the syndication}
  • valacyclovir (Valtrex)
Genital herpes: recurrence Drug of choice:
  • acyclovir (Zovirax)
 Alternative drugs:
  • famciclovir (Famvir) or
  • valacyclovir (Valtrex)
Genital herpes: chronic suppression Drug of choice:
  • acyclovir (Zovirax)
 Alternative drugs:
  • valacyclovir (Valtrex) or
  • famciclovir (Famvir)
Mucocutaneous disease (in immunocompromised patients) Drug of choice:
  • acyclovir (Zovirax)
  
Encephalitis Drug of choice:
  • acyclovir (Zovirax)
  
Neonatal Drug of choice:
  • acyclovir (Zovirax)
  
Acyclovir (Zovirax)-resistant Drug of choice:
  • foscarnet (Foscavir)
  
Keratoconjunctivitis Drug of choice:
  • trifluridine (Viroptic)
  
Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV)
Varicella Drug of choice:

  • acyclovir (Zovirax)

  
Herpes zoster Drug of choice:

  • valacyclovir (Valtrex)

 Alternative drugs:
  • famciclovir (Famvir) or
  • acyclovir (Zovirax)
Varicella or zoster in immunocompromise patients Drug of choice:

  • acyclovir (Zovirax)

 Alternative drugs for acyclovir (Zovirax)-resistant cases:
  • Foscarnet (Foscavir)
Drugs for non-HIV viral infection. The Medical Letter, 1999, vol. 41 (Issue 1067) December 3, 1999