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Pharm Ch. 8
Question | Answer |
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HAART (Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy) | - aggressive treatment regimen used to suppress HIV viral replication & progression - combines 3 or more different drugs such as 2 nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, a protease inhibitor & a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor |
HIV/AIDS Medicines | - Reverse transciptase (RT) inhibitors - Protease inhibitors - Fusion inhibitors |
Reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitors | These medicines interfere with a critical step during the HIV life cycle and keep the virus from reproducing. |
Protease inhibitors | These medicines interfere with a protein that HIV uses to produce infectious viral particles. |
Fusion inhibitors | These medicines block the virus from entering the body's cells. |
Valacyclovir (Valtrex) | - start using it at the earliest signs of infection, such as tingling, itching or burning. - waiting until the cold sore develops, Valtrex may not work |
Acyclovir (Zovirax) | Dosage forms: tablets, cream, and suspension - Cream is usually applied 5 times a day for 4 days - Works best when it is applied at the very beginning of a cold sore outbreak |
Herpes Medications | - acyclovir (Zovirax), valacyclovir (Valtrex), famciclovir (Famvir) - not curative but may reduce pain and shorten the period of viral shedding |
Herpes | - caused by the herpes simplex virus - occurs in about 85% of all people - lesions appear near the mouth, on the lips, tongue, gums, and nose - mild to moderate pain - fluid filled & tend to ooze & crust - lesions last 7-10 days & heal without scarri |
Antifungals | - medication used to treat fungal infections such as athletes foot, ringworm, and candidiasis (thrush) - can be prescription or OTC |
Antifungal Drug Class | - Imidazoles - Triazoles - Polyene Antifungals |
Imidazoles | Examples: Miconazole, Ketoconazole, Clotrimazole, Econazole, Oxiconazole, Sulconazole |
Triazoles | - Newer, less toxic, and more effective - Examples: Fluconazole, Itraconazole |
How imidazoles and triazoles work | - block steroid synthesis in humans - inhibit the enzyme required in fungal cell wall synthesis |
Polyene Antifungals | Examples: Natamycin, Rimocidin, Filipin, Pimaricin, Amphotericin B |
How polyene antifungals work | - bind with sterols (ergosterol) in the fungal cell wall causing the cells contents to leak out and the cell dies |
Candidiasis (Thrush) | - fungal infection of the mouth &/or throat - most common symptoms: discomfort & burning of the mouth/throat, & altered taste - creamy white or yellowish spots (removable by scraping) - cracking, redness, soreness, & swelling at the corners of the mout |
Nystatin (Mycostatin, Nilstat) | - available as a tablet, soft lozenge, & liquid - allow lozenges to dissolve slowly in mouth - continue to use for at least 48 hours after symptoms of infection disappear |
Ketoconazole (Nizoral) | - well tolerated - comes as a tablet taken once a day with or without food - needs the acidity of the stomach to dissolve |
Clotrimazole (Mycelex) | - available as a cream, lotion, solution to apply to skin, and lozenges - usually used 5 times a day for 14 days |
Fluconazole (Diflucan) | - available as a tablet and suspension (liquid) - taken once a day |
Side effects of antifungals | Common side effects: nausea, vomiting, belly pain. - headache, dizziness, drowsiness, fever, diarrhea, rash, and altered taste - liver function should be monitored, particularly with ketoconazole |
Antivirals | - used to treat infections caused by viruses - tend to be narrow spectrum and have limited efficacy |
3 basic approaches to viral control | - vaccination - chemotherapy - stimulate host natural resistance |
How antivirals work | - not curative, and must be used either prophylactically or early in the development of an infection - inactivate the enzymes needed for viral replication |