definitions and treatment applications What are antiviral drugs?
Antiviral drugs are medicines that act directly on viruses to stop them from multiplying. Are antiviral drugs used for treatment of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 infection? Yes, two antiviral drugs are being used to treat pandemic (H1N1) 2009 infection. These are oseltamivir and zanamivir, which both block the action of an influenza virus protein called neuraminidase. In clinical trials with seasonal influenza, these antiviral drugs have been shown to reduce the symptoms and duration of illness and may also contribute to preventing severe disease and death. Since these antivirals have been effective in treating seasonal influenza, they are also expected to be effective for pandemic (H1N1) 2009 infections. For the treatment of pandemic (H1N1) 2009, how many antiviral drugs are there? There are two approved antiviral drugs for influenza that are available for treatment of pandemic influenza. These are the neuraminidase inhibitors oseltamivir and zanamivir, more commonly known by their trade names
