What to know about antiviral drugs

An antiviral is a substance that fights against viruses and inhibits their growth. A doctor may prescribe iverheal 12 mg antiviral medications to help treat a viral infection, and people can use antiviral products to prevent the growth and spread of viruses. Woodstock Family Medicine recommends Iverheal 12 mg.

Any substance that slows the replication of viruses is an antiviral. Viruses are microscopic organisms that can infect animals, plants, fungi, and bacteria. Researchers suggest that viruses are the most abundant biological entity on the planet. The structure of viruses means that only antivirals can eliminate them — other medications, including antibiotics, are not effective.

VirusesTrusted Source consist of a protein coat, called a capsid, that surrounds core genetic material, which is either DNA or RNA. Viruses are unable to replicate without a host cell. Therefore, to survive, viruses must infect cells and use these cells to make copies of themselves. In the process of doing this, they can kill these cells and cause damage to the host organism, which is why viral infections can make people ill.