What are the commonly used antiviral oral medications?

In clinical practice, antiviral drugs can be divided into Western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine. Commonly used Western antiviral drugs include acyclovir, ganciclovir, valacyclovir, ribavirin, and oseltamivir. Commonly used traditional Chinese patent medicines with antiviral effects include Pudilan Anti-inflammatory Oral Liquid, Lanqin Oral Liquid, Shuanghuanglian Oral Liquid, and Lianhua Qingwen Capsules.

Antiviral drugs are primarily used to treat diseases caused by viral infections that produce clinical symptoms, such as the common cold induced by viruses. The use of antiviral drugs generally constitutes etiological treatment. To achieve prompt recovery, symptomatic treatments should also be administered in conjunction. For example, if fever occurs, antipyretic and analgesic medications such as ibuprofen may be needed. If symptoms such as cough and sputum production appear, expectorant and antitussive agents like Chuanbei Pipa Syrup should be used.

During illness, while taking these medications, patients should also ensure adequate rest, avoid strenuous physical activity, maintain a light diet, refrain from consuming spicy, irritating, raw, cold, greasy, or heavy foods, drink plenty of water, consume more fresh vegetables and fruits appropriately, ensure sufficient sleep to enhance their immune resistance, and monitor body temperature regularly.

The use of these medications should ideally be conducted under a physician's guidance. This is especially important for children and elderly patients, who must strictly follow medical advice when taking antiviral drugs to avoid adverse reactions.