Vidarabine other names for Vidarabine: Adenosine, trade name for Vidarabine: Adenosine. Properties: white crystalline powder, slightly soluble in water, phosphate soluble in water. It is effective against herpes simplex virus HSV1 and HSV2 in the treatment of herpes simplex virus encephalitis and in the treatment of herpes zoster and chickenpox infections in immunosuppressed patients. But not against cytomegalovirus. The monophosphate ester of this product has the effect of inhibiting the replication of hepatitis B virus.