Why can't viruses be defeated by pills?

Question

why dont we still have any cure for viruses other then our own immune system?

Answer 1

There are several antiviral drugs. For example, Four antiviral medications (amantadine, rimantadine, zanamavir and oseltamivir) have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of influenza.

Most of the antivirals now available are designed to help deal with HIV, herpesvirus, which is best known for causing cold sores but actually covers a wide range of diseases, and the hepatitis B and C viruses, which can cause liver cancer. Researchers are now working to extend the range of antivirals to other families of pathogens.

The wikipedial reference (below) is pretty comprehensive on the topic. I highly recommend you read it.

Here are a list of names of presently known antiviral drugs.

Anti-herpesvirus agents:
Aciclovir, Cidofovir, Docosanol, Famciclovir, Fomivirsen, Foscarnet, Ganciclovir, Idoxuridine, Penciclovir, Trifluridine, Tromantadine, Valaciclovir, Valganciclovir, Vidarabine

Anti-influenza agents:
Amantadine, Oseltamivir, Peramivir, Rimantadine, Zanamivir

Antiretroviral drugs:
NRTIs Abacavir, Didanosine, Emtricitabine, Lamivudine, Stavudine, Tenofovir, Zalcitabine, Zidovudine
NtRTIs Adefovir, Tenofovir
NNRTIs Efavirenz, Delavirdine, Nevirapine
PIs Amprenavir, Atazanavir, Darunavir, Fosamprenavir, Indinavir, Lopinavir, Nelfinavir, Ritonavir, Saquinavir, Tipranavir

Other antiviral agents:
Enfuvirtide, Fomivirsen, Imiquimod, Inosine,Interferon, Podophyllotoxin, Ribavirin, Viramidine

Answer 2

Since a virus doesn't work like a bacteria we don't have a medication that can eradicate like an antibiotic does for bacteria. We do, however, have vaccines which are made from either live or dead cultures of a virus. When you receive the measles vaccine for example that is the "pill" that defeats measles so to speak. As for those types of virus that are more common and have less side effects like colds there are just so many strains that it would be difficult to develop and distribute vaccines for all of them. Polio is another example of a virus that has a vaccine. A vaccine does the work that your immune system does without you getting sick.

Answer 3

There are some anti-viral medications out there, that is what they use for HIV infections, and influenza. Type in the word Tamiflu into a search engine.

Viruses mutate much more quickly than bacteria and change rapidly enough that there is a new flu vaccine every year.

The entire field of virology is too vast to address in this forum, but the information is there to be had if you are so motivated.

Answer 4

As published above, Pseudomonas is a bacterium and there are a number of option options the docs can nevertheless try, consisting of the cephalosporins and aminoglycosides and fluoroquinolones reported. Amikacin is usually extra efficient against resistant micro organism than tobramycin. i would not say the medicine listed are undesirable options; there are a number of beta-lactam drugs with anti-pseudomonal interest consisting of the imipenem and aztreonam; i do no longer understand the 1st 2 drugs you listed. Pseudomonas is a extreme an infection, nonetheless, to be dealt with utilising extreme antibiotics, no longer wallaby milk. because of the fact the 1st poster reported, there could be different aspects in play right here, yet I want your aunt the final.

Answer 5

most viruses are incurable...there are medicines to relieve the symptom and immunizations to keep them away but none to cure. Bacteria on the other hand can be killed, the reason for that is because bacteria are live organisms, whereas viruses are parasites that can't function without a host.

Answer 6

The only way to kill a virus is a live killer cell, they don't come in pill form. The only way to get one (antibody) is to to be exposed to the virus and defeat it. That's nature baby. You can't kill a live virus with a dead antibody(pill). You can develop an antibody by exposure to a dead virus. Henceforth vaccines.

Answer 7

The genetic make-up of a virus changes every time it goes from carrier to carrier...ie. A virus is never the same. Therefore, we cannot have 1 solution to something that isn't really "one"

natural selection and stuff.

Answer 8

the body needs 2 learn how to defend agaisnt the viruses you get with your immune system and relying on pills will make your immune system weak because its not defending you. the only few people who will need 2 rely on medcinces are people with very very bad immune systems because they cant fight it off and need the meds

Answer 9

Because pills only help ur white blood cells defeat the sickness

Answer 10

viruses are constantly mutating.
a few of years ago there was a strain of the Flu that actually ate anti-biotics and got stronger.