Which antiviral medication is commonly associated with nausea and vomiting as side effects?

Oseltamivir is an antiviral medication that is primarily used to treat and prevent influenza. One of the notable side effects commonly associated with oseltamivir is gastrointestinal distress, which can manifest as nausea and vomiting. This occurs because the drug can irritate the gastrointestinal tract or alter gut motility.

When oseltamivir is absorbed, it travels throughout the body and can lead to stimulation of the central nervous system, where it may trigger the vomiting center. This can particularly happen when the medication is taken on an empty stomach, which often exacerbates these gastrointestinal side effects. Therefore, patients are sometimes advised to take oseltamivir with food to lessen the risk of nausea and vomiting.

The other antiviral medications listed have different side effect profiles. For example, ribavirin is often associated with hemolytic anemia, sofosbuvir may cause fatigue or headache, and acyclovir is commonly linked to renal toxicity when given intravenously but not typically to nausea and vomiting as prominently as oseltamivir. Understanding these side effects can help in managing patient expectations and improving adherence to antiviral therapies.