antiviral

/ˌæntiˈvaɪrəl/

Other forms: antivirals

An antiviral medication is one used to treat a patient with a serious case of a virus like the flu or Ebola.

To be prescribed an antiviral drug, a patient has to be pretty sick. If you get a mild case of the flu you don't need this kind of medication, but someone who's so ill they end up in the hospital may be given antivirals. Just like the word implies, antivirals attack certain viruses; they do this by boosting the immune system or blocking receptors so the virus can't attach to healthy cells.

Definitions of antiviral

1. adjective

   inhibiting or stopping the growth and reproduction of viruses
2. noun

   any drug that destroys viruses
   synonyms: antiviral agent, antiviral drug

   types:

   DDC, ddC, dideoxycytosine, zalcitabine

   an antiviral drug used to combat HIV infection

   DDI, ddI, didanosine, dideoxyinosine

   an antiviral drug used to combat HIV infection

   interferon

   an antiviral protein produced by cells that have been invaded by a virus; inhibits replication of the virus

   PI, protease inhibitor

   an antiviral drug used against HIV; interrupts HIV replication by binding and blocking HIV protease; often used in combination with other drugs

   reverse transcriptase inhibitor

   an antiviral drug that inhibits the action of reverse transcriptase in retroviruses such as HIV

   Virazole, ribavirin

   an inhaled antiviral agent (trade name Virazole) that may be used to treat serious virus infections

   alpha-interferon

   a form of interferon that is produced endogenously and commercially for its pharmacological effects (including regulation of the immune system and antiviral and antineoplastic effects)

   beta-interferon

   a form of interferon that is produced by fibroblasts and have antiviral effects; used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis

   gamma-interferon

   a form of interferon that is produced by T cells and macrophages; involved in the activation of phagocytes

   Crixivan, indinavir

   a protease inhibitor (trade name Crixivan) used for treating HIV

   Viracept, nelfinavir

   a protease inhibitor (trade name Viracept) used in treating HIV usually in combination with other drugs

   NNRTI, non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor

   an antiviral drug used against HIV; binds directly to reverse transcriptase and prevents RNA conversion to DNA; often used in combination with other drugs

   NRTI, nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor

   an antiviral drug used against HIV; is incorporated into the DNA of the virus and stops the building process; results in incomplete DNA that cannot create a new virus; often used in combination with other drugs

   Norvir, ritonavir

   a protease inhibitor (trade name Norvir) used in treating HIV

   Invirase, saquinavir

   a weak protease inhibitor (trade name Invirase) used in treating HIV

   type of:

   medicament, medication, medicinal drug, medicine

   (medicine) something that treats or prevents or alleviates the symptoms of disease