What is Brivudin?
Brivudine is the active ingredient in drugs used to treat specific diseases caused by herpes viruses. It is a nucleoside analogue and is much more effective than similar antiviral drugs. Nucleoside analogues have a structural similarity with the building blocks of DNA.
If a nucleoside analogue is inserted instead of the actual DNA building blocks, DNA synthesis is stopped. Brivudine is mainly used to treat shingles. However, it can also be used for other forms of herpes, for example in the face.
Side effects are rare. The most common is nausea. Caution is required when taking certain drugs (cytostatic drugs) at the same time. This can lead to life-threatening interactions. The trade name of the active ingredient Brivudin is Zostex®.
Brivudine for shingles
Probably the most important indication for Brivudine is shingles. This is a disease of the nerves and skin caused by the Varicella zoster virus (chickenpox virus) from the group of herpes viruses. Once you have been infected with chickenpox once in your life, the viruses remain in the nerve cells of the spinal cord.
If the body’s defences are weakened, the viruses can migrate along the nerve tracts to the skin and cause shingles, which is manifested by pain and skin symptoms such as blisters. The symptoms typically occur on one side of the trunk and in a belt shape. Brivudine interferes with the reproduction cycle of the viruses, thus reducing the extent of shingles and allowing the symptoms to subside more quickly. Brivudine is the first choice for the treatment of shingles, particularly in patients over 50 years of age.
Brivudine for lip herpes
Brivudine is also effective in fighting the pathogen responsible for cold sores, herpes simplex type 1. In principle, there may therefore be an indication for the drug in the treatment of cold sores. In most cases, however, treatment with a less potent antiviral drug in the form of an ointment is sufficient.
Brivudine, however, is taken in tablet form. As a rule, however, an ointment treatment for lip herpes is sufficient. If necessary, the physician can provide the indication for treatment with Brivudine in particularly severe cases of lip herpes or if the patient’s immune system is reduced.
How fast does Brivudin work?
How quickly Brivudin works cannot be said in general terms. The best and quickest possible effect can be achieved if you start taking Brivudine as soon as possible after the first symptoms appear. Treatment should be started within the first two to three days after the onset of the disease.
As a rule, the symptoms are relieved within a few days and in the best case, after the end of the treatment cycle, the symptoms are completely healed. However, it may take a few more weeks for the skin symptoms to heal. In some cases, however, nerve pain or skin changes may remain for a long time. This is particularly the case if the medication is taken too late or for too short a period.
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