Antiviral drugs are used to treat viral infections by inhibiting viral development rather than destroying the pathogen. The herpes virus is of particular interest to dentistry. Acyclovir is commonly used in dentistry to treat herpes simplex infections of the lips, gums, and mucous membranes as well as herpes zoster and chickenpox. It has minimal side effects but intravenous use can cause sweating, rashes, nausea and low blood pressure in some patients. Other topical antivirals used in dentistry include penciclovir and docosanol to treat herpes infections. Famciclovir and valaciclovir are also used orally to treat herpes zoster and genital

1. Anti Virals in Dentistry
Sana Rasheed

2.  Antiviral drugs are used for treating viral infections. However, antiviral drugs do not destroy their
target pathogen, they only inhibit their development.
 The herpes virus is of the most interest to the dental health care worker.

3. Commonly Used Antivirals in Dentistry
Generic Name: Acyclovir Used in topical , IV, oral formulations

4. Indications
 Acyclovir is effective in patients with normal as well as deficient immune status.
 Genital Herpes simplex infection.
 Mucocutaneous H.simplex disease which is localized to lips and gums. This may not require
specific treatment, but may require 10 day treatment with acyclovir.
 H.simplex encephalitis- Acyclovir is the drug of choice.
 H.simplex keratitis.
 Herpes zoster and chicken pox.

5. Adverse Effects
 Topical - Stinging and burning sensation after each application.
 Oral - The drug is well tolerated, headache, nausea, malaise and some CNS effects are reported.
 Intravenous - Sweating, rashes, emesis and fall in B.P occur in only few patients.

6. Penciclovir
 Available topically
 Shown to reduce both the duration of the
lesion and the pain of the lesions on the lips
and face associated with both primary and
recurrent herpes.

7. Docosanol 10%
 Available topically and without a prescription.
 Has been shown to decrease healing time by about a half day in
patient with recurrent orolabial herpes when started within 12 hours
of the appearance of prodromal symptoms.

8. Famciclovir
 Indications: Used in the
treatment of herpes zoster
and genital herpetic
infections
 Contraindications:
Hypersensitivity, children.
Precautions Renal and liver
disease, pregnancy and
breastfeeding.
 Side effects:
Maitenance of adequate fluid intake is
required with high doses.
Fever, gastrointestinal upset, dizziness,
confusion, and hallucinations, headache
and sinusitis, rash.

9. Valaciclovir (Valtrex)
 It is a pro-drug for aciclovir.
 Indications Used to treat
herpes simplex and varicella-
zoster infections
Contraindications:
 Hypersensitivity, children.
Precautions : Renal disease,
pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Side effects:
 Glossitis, altered taste,
gastrointestinal upset, renal
failure, bone marrow
depression, tremors and
convulsions, rash, and
urticaria.

10. Other Similar Drugs
 Ganciclovir
 Foscarnet
 Nucleotide Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors
 Zidovudine

11. Zidovudine
Indication
 Zidovudine is used with combination with other 2 antiretro virus
drugs in HIV cases.
Adverse Effects
 Anaemia and neutropenia are the most important side effect.
 Nausea, anorexia, abdominal pain, headache, insomnia and
myalgia are common at the start of the therapy but diminish
later.
 Myopathy, lactic acidosis, hepatomegaly, convulsions and
encephalopathy are infrequent

12. Thank you