Acyclovir: Herpes Viral Infection

Acyclovir: Herpes Viral Infection
Acyclovir is an example of an antiviral medication used to treat herpes. Herpes is a viral infection caused by the herpes simplex virus. The key symptoms are blisters or sores around the genitals and mouth. Acyclovir can be injected, applied as a cream, or taken through the mouth. The medication is effective and acts within a short period.
Mechanism of Action, Interactions, and Side effects
Before Acyclovir acts, it is converted to Acyclovir triphosphate to make the reactions effective. The triphosphate form of Acyclovir acts by inhibiting the viral DNA polymerase (Kłysik et al., 2020). It also alters the growth of viral DNA by deactivating the DNA polymerase. Regardless of its effectiveness, Acyclovir comprises various side effects, including headache, loss of appetite, vomiting, and diarrhea. Therefore, close monitoring is necessary. The medication interacts efficiently with other drugs such as oral probenecid, cidofovir, and bacitracin. Therefore, it is appropriate for treating herpes viral infection.
Ethnic, Genetic, or Cultural Differences
Different genetics and ethnic factors are considered during the prescription of Acyclovir. For instance, it is necessary to analyze the family lin...