Antivirals for herpesviruses: Nursing Pharmacology

Herpesviruses are a family of DNA viruses that include herpes simplex virus or HSV types 1 and 2, varicella-zoster virus or VZV, cytomegalovirus or CMV for short, Epstein-Barr virus or EBV, and human herpesvirus or HHV 6, 7, and 8.

Certain herpesvirus infections can be treated with a class of antiviral medications called guanosine analogs, which include medications that end in the suffix -clovir.

The main drugs used to treat herpes infections include valacyclovir, valganciclovir, and famciclovir, which are given orally, as well as acyclovir and ganciclovir, which can also be administered topically or intravenously in addition to orally.

Once administered, guanosine analogs act by inserting into the replicating viral DNA. As a result, viral DNA synthesis is halted, ultimately stopping viral replication.

Now, clients taking guanosine analogs may experience headache and nausea. These medications can also cause a skin rash, pruritus, nephrotoxicity, and hypersensitivity reactions like Stevens-Johnson syndrome and angioedema.

Acyclovir and valacyclovir can cause neurological side effects, including agitation, tremors, confusion, and myoclonus; more rarely, clients can develop hallucinations, and even encephalopathy or seizures.