A client is being treated with antiviral pharmacotherapy. The nurse understands that treatment with antiviral drugs is extremely challenging because:

Question

1. their broad spectrum causes severe adverse effects.
2. the drug scheduling makes compliance difficult.
3. the rapid mutation of viruses quickly makes drugs ineffective.
4. high doses of medication are required to achieve therapeutic effects.

Answer 1

Correct Answer: 3
Rationale 1: Many antiviral drugs are very narrow in spectrum (effective against only one particular virus).
Rationale 2: Scheduling of the medications is adjusted according to virulence, potency of the medicine, and client need.
Rationale 3: Antiviral pharmacotherapy is extremely challenging because the rapid mutation of viruses quickly makes drugs ineffective.
Rationale 4: Dosages are adjusted according to virulence, potency of the medicine, and client need.
Global Rationale: Antiviral pharmacotherapy can be extremely challenging due to the rapid mutation rates of viruses, which can quickly render medications ineffective. Many antiviral drugs are very narrow in spectrum (effective against only one particular virus). While compliance can be an issue newer drugs have less complicated dosing schedules. Dosages are adjusted according to virulence, potency of the medication, and client need.