Antivirals (often also Antivirals) are a group of drugs used to treat viral diseases. In contrast to antibiotics, which are used in bacterial infections and are already an integral part of modern medicine, the development of antiviral agents is still in the early stages. The first experiments took place as early as the 1960s, but the targeted development of virus-inhibiting drugs was only made possible by advances in genetic research in the 1980s.
What are antivirals?
Most antivirals do not fight viruses directly, but rather contain them by interrupting the reproductive process. In contrast to bacteria, viruses cannot multiply on their own and are therefore dependent on host cells.
Antiviral drugs can stop this process in several places. This can prevent viruses from gaining access to the receptors, i.e. the docking points, of a host cell or the virus from taking over the cell completely. Other active ingredients prevent cells that are already infected from multiplying by interrupting cell division. Other drugs such as the so-called interferons support the immune system in fighting the pathogen.
These endogenous messenger substances are produced by infected cells in order to make the surrounding tissue aware of the virus and to activate additional defense mechanisms. This process is intensified with the help of synthetic interferons. Man-made antibodies have a similar effect. These bind to infected cells and thus accelerate their detection and control. The use of immunostimulating drugs is also known as immunotherapy, among other methods.
Medical application, effect & use
Antiretroviral drugs are among the most commonly used antivirals. These are used in the treatment of HIV infection to slow down the onset of AIDS. A cure cannot be expected yet, but the virus-inhibiting effect is very promising and has already significantly increased the life expectancy of HIV patients.
In other areas, too, antivirals are used more and more often as a supplement to vaccinations. Preventive measures are still more effective, but flu viruses mutate so quickly that a new vaccine has to be developed every year. If this is administered too late, antiviral drugs can ease the course of the disease in risk groups. These include children, pregnant women, patients whose immune systems are weakened or those who suffer from chronic diseases that can cause complications.
In the case of long-term hepatitis diseases, a similar procedure can be used to minimize severe damage to the liver. In the case of incurable herpes simplex disease, antivirals can reduce the duration, severity and frequency of the recurring disease outbreaks. Additionally, in many cases, these drugs reduce the risk of transmission. Similar to antibiotics, antivirals have already caused the development of resistant viral diseases, which is taken into account when used. Therefore, these active ingredients are generally used very specifically when the benefits of a treatment outweigh the benefits.
Herbal, natural, homeopathic & pharmaceutical antivirals
Many virus inhibitors are made from natural ingredients. The basic substance of the well-known preparation Tamiflu® (active ingredient: oseltamivir) is obtained from real star anise.
During the bird flu epidemic, the increased demand even led to supply bottlenecks. The antiviral effect is attributed to the essential oils found in the plant. According to laboratory tests, these are also responsible for the effect of eucalyptus oil against herpes viruses. In addition, many types of mushrooms contain antiviral components. However, purely natural drugs are not yet available.
All natural raw materials also go through several, often very complex processing processes. The dosage forms vary, but injection solutions and tablets are common. The drugs are often divided according to the mode of action, i.e. whether they affect the virus before, after or during infection of healthy cells. The range of applications is another factor. Antivirals can be used specifically against individual or a small number of related diseases or, like interferons, have a general antiviral effect.
Risks & side effects
Since the group of these herbs is very large, the spectrum of possible side effects is correspondingly broad and depends on the type of application.
Antiviral ointments that are applied externally are well tolerated and side effects are usually limited to the area of application. Among the systemically acting drugs, i.e. taken as tablets, nausea, headaches and diarrhea are more common. Antivirals designed for specific pathogens are generally better tolerated, while agents that can be used over a large area usually also cause more side effects. Since most of the active ingredients are processed through the liver, patients with liver disease are at greater risk.
Since in the rarest cases it can even lead to death and many virus-inhibiting agents have only been on the market for a few years, side effects cannot always be accurately predicted. The most common viral diseases heal without problems in healthy people and therefore only justify the use of antiviral agents in exceptional cases.
