answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

The drug gives the patient a weakened form of the virus. The body's immune system 'learns' what the virus is and produces anti-bodies to fight the infection. The anti-bodies remain in the patient's bloodstream - ready to fight the full-blown disease, should they catch it in later life.

User Avatar

Wiki User

11y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
More answers
User Avatar

Wiki User

12y ago
Antiviral FunctionLike most drugs used to treat infectious pathogens, antivirals are targeted to specific strains of viruses and work in a variety of ways. Most antiviral drugs don't actually kill the virus particles themselves as inhibit their reproduction. Since viruses cannot reproduce without infecting a host cell antiviral drugs have been designed to interfere with the infection process.

This interference may be achieved in numerous ways, including blocking the virus from the host cell, preventing the virus from releasing its genetic material once it reaches the nucleus and preventing the virus's genetic data from being spliced into the host cell's DNA. Various highly specific antiviral drugs have also been developed that target the enzymes and proteins that an infected host cell uses to assemble new virus particles and prevent them from functioning correctly. Such drugs must be designed very carefully so that they do not interfere with the metabolism of healthy cells. A final type of antiviral drug targets the virus indirectly, by increasing the efficiency with which the host's immune system can fight the viral infection

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago

Antivirals are used to treat infections caused by viruses. Unlike antibacterial drugs, which may cover a wide range of pathogens, antiviral agents tend to be narrow in spectrum, and have limited efficacy.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

11y ago

anti-viral drugs used to control certain viruses by: Inhibiting the enzyme necessary for viral replication

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago

They stop viruses from reproducing

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

9y ago

Kill viruses

This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: How antiviral drugs work?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Related questions

What are antiviral?

No foods are antiviral. Only fairly strong drugs have antiviral properties.


Acyclovir is an example of what?

it is an example of antiviral drugs


What type of drug is acyclovir?

Guanine nucleoside analogues, Nucleoside analogues and Antiviral drugs


How many antiviral drugs are available?

Exclusive of the antiretroviral agents used in HIV (AIDS) therapy, there are currently only 11 antiviral drugs available, covering four types of virus.


What is the most limited group of antimicrobial agents?

Antiviral drugs are the most limited.


What are types of a new antiviral drug?

As of August 2013, there appears to be new antiviral drugs in the fight against Hepatitus B. According to other reports, there is a potiential antiviral medication that will be able to cure most viruses.


What are antiviral drugs used to treat?

Antivirals are used to treat infections caused by viruses.


What are some good journal sources of information on antiviral drugs?

Gray, Mary Ann. "Antiviral Medications." Orthopaedic Nursing 15 (November-December 1996): 82.


Do antiviral drugs prevent Swine Flu?

Antiviral drugs can be used to treat swine flu or to prevent infection with swine flu viruses.They must be prescribed by a health care professional.They work against influenza viruses -- but will not help treat or prevent symptoms caused by infection from other viruses that can cause symptoms similar to the flu.The CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir or zanamivir for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with swine influenza viruses.Recommendations for using antiviral drugs for treatment or prevention of swine influenza will change as we learn more about this new virus.


What is an antivirous?

Just like antibiotics get rid of bacterial infections, antiviral drugs fight against dangerous viruses. A recent example of antiviral drugs is Tamiflu which is used to battle the Swine Flu. For more information, see the below related link.


Are bacterial infections more susceptible to drugs than viruses?

Do you mean antibiotics, which only work on bacteria, or do you mean antiviral drugs, which only work on viruses. Not really, as bacteria are becoming very resistant to all antibiotics and some are becoming untreatable. Viruses mutate so rapidly that drugs become useless in time and more need be discovered.


What is an antiviral drug?

An antiviral drug is a medication used to treat viral infections by either inhibiting the virus from replicating in the body or boosting the body’s immune response to fight off the virus. These drugs are specific to certain viruses and can help reduce symptoms, shorten the duration of the illness, and prevent complications.