Antiviral

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Antiviral drugs are a class of medication used specifically for treating viral infections, rather than bacterial, fungal or other infections. Most antivirals are used for a specific type of virus, while a broad-spectrum antiviral is effective against a wider range of viruses. Although there are a number of broad-spectrum antibiotics, there are very few broad-spectrum antiviral drugs, and the few in existence are generally only effective against a specific family of viruses.[citation needed]

Tenofovir and lamivudine are antiviral drugs which are designed for HIV, but may be effective against other retroviruses. Valacyclovir is often used for Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) I and II, as well as for Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV), another herpesviruses. Valganciclovir is used for a broader spectrum of herpesviruses, including HSV I and II, VZV, cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and is somewhat effective against Human Herpesvirus 6 (HHV6). Ribavirin is an antiviral drug effective against RNA viruses, although it is rarely used due to its toxic side-effects. Other antiviral drugs that can be effective against RNA viruses include Ivermectin, Paxlovid, Maraviroc and other antivirals that are typically used to treat covid-19, HIV and other RNA viruses.

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