Skip to main content

Purine nucleosides

What are Purine nucleosides?

Purine nucleosides are antiviral agents that have selective activity against herpes simplex virus types 1 (cold sores) and 2 (genital herpes) and varicella zoster virus (chicken pox).

The purine nucleoside molecule is converted to a monophosphate by viral thymidine kinases. The monophosphate is then converted to diphosphate and then into a triphosphate form by cellular enzymes. The triphosphate form blocks the replication of viral DNA by inhibiting viral DNA polymerase and terminating the growing viral DNA chain.

Purine nucleosides are more potent against the viral enzymes than the host enzymes.

List of Purine nucleosides

View by  Brand | Generic
Drug Name Avg. Rating Reviews
Valtrex (Pro)
Generic name: valacyclovir
8.7
302 reviews
Zovirax (Pro)
Generic name: acyclovir
8.2
17 reviews
Famvir (Pro)
Generic name: famciclovir
8.6
16 reviews
Sitavig (Pro)
Generic name: acyclovir
8.5
12 reviews
Valcyte (Pro)
Generic name: valganciclovir
5.0
2 reviews
Rebetol (Pro)
Generic name: ribavirin
5.5
2 reviews
Ribasphere
Generic name: ribavirin
10
1 review
Moderiba (Pro)
Generic name: ribavirin
8.0
1 review
Copegus (Pro)
Generic name: ribavirin
8.0
1 review
Vistide
Generic name: cidofovir
No reviews
Virazole (Pro)
Generic name: ribavirin
No reviews
Veklury (Pro)
Generic name: remdesivir
No reviews
Tembexa (Pro)
Generic name: brincidofovir
No reviews
RibaTab
Generic name: ribavirin
No reviews
RibaPak
Generic name: ribavirin
No reviews
Cytovene (Pro)
Generic name: ganciclovir
No reviews
For ratings, users were asked how effective they found the medicine while considering positive/adverse effects and ease of use (1 = not effective, 10 = most effective).

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.