Amantadine
Amantadine prevents a virus from entering the cell or from uncoating once the
virus enters the cell. It is used (though it has limited usefulness) to prevent
influenza A, but has no practical effect once the virus infects the cell.Nucleoside analogs
Nucleoside analog antiviral drugs affect the synthesis of viral DNA or RNA.
Commonly used nucleoside analogs are:- Acycloviris used to combat viruses that cause herpes.
- Ribavirinis used to treat rotavirus-caused pneumonia in infants.
- Gancicloviris used fight cytomegalovirus infections that are common in
transplant patients and patients who have AIDS. - Trifluridine is used to treat the eye infection caused by acyclovir-resistant
herpes keratitis. - Zidovudine (AZT) is used in HIV infection. This drug blocks the synthesis
of DNA from RNA by the enzyme reverse transcriptase.
ANTIPROTOZOAN DRUGS
Antiprotozoan drugs are used to combat parasitic infection, such as the disease
malaria. Commonly used antiprotozoan drugs follow.Chloroquine
Chloroquineis a replacement for quinine, which was the traditional treatment
for malaria.Mefloquine
Mefloquineis a secondary treatment for malaria when there is a resistance to
chloroquine.Quinacrine
Quinacrineis used to treat giardiasis.(^244) CHAPTER 16 Antimicrobial Drugs