Medications for AIDS
Medications for AIDS
by
Michael Jubinville, MPH The medicines below are used to treat and control HIV. Only the most basic problems are listed. Ask your doctor if there are any other steps you need to take. Use each of them as your doctor tells you. If you have any questions or can’t follow the package instructions, call your doctor. Take the medicines exactly as advised. This is because HIV resistance to medicine can happen if doses are skipped. Work with your doctor to make a plan that best fit your needs. This plan may change as new treatments become available. Medicines are used in combination. This is called highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). HAART is linked to better health and longer survival in those with HIV. Prescription Medicines
Nucleoside and nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors
Nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors
Once a day complete combination pills:
Drugs to treat or prevent opportunistic infections
Some of the above medicines can be prescribed as one combined pill. Protease InhibitorsCommon names:
Protease inhibitors interfere with HIV reproduction in the body. This happens during a late stage in the virus life cycle. This slows the growth of HIV. Side effects may be:
Nucleoside and Nucleotide Reverse Transcriptase InhibitorsCommon names:
These medicines interfere with HIV reproduction in the body. This happens during an early stage of the virus life cycle. Newer medicines in this class type are well tolerated and are one of the best components of treating HIV. Side effects depend on the medicine you take. The most common are:
Nonnucleoside Reverse Transcriptase InhibitorsCommon names:
These medicines interfere with HIV reproduction in the body. This slows the spread of HIV. Side effects may be:
Fusion InhibitorsCommon names include:
These will interfere with HIV fusion to certain cell receptors. This slows the spread of HIV. Side effects may be:
Integrase InhibitorsCommon names include:
These interfere with the integration of HIV in the nucleus of the cell. This will slow the spread of HIV. Side effects may be:
CCR5 InhibitorsCommon names include:
These medicines interfere with HIV attachment to certain cell receptors on cells in the body. This slows the spread of HIV. Possible side effects include:
Drugs to Treat or Prevent Opportunistic InfectionsCommon names include:
Special ConsiderationsMedicines don't provide a cure. They are given to lower the effects of the virus. If you have HIV, but don't have symptoms of AIDS, the doctor may have you wait to start medicine therapy until the time is right. Keep in touch with your doctor who will help watch the health of your immune system. Together, you will decide when and how to treat HIV. If you are taking medicines:
References:Antiretroviral therapy in adults and adolescents with HIV infection. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dyname.... Updated September 13, 2018. Accessed September 18, 2018. Guide for HIV/AIDS clinical care. National Institute of Health and Human Services website. Available at:
https://hab.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hab/clinical-quality-management/2014guide.pdf. Updated April 2014. Accessed September 18, 2018. HIV and AIDS. Family Doctor—American Academy of Family Physicians website. Available at: ...(Click grey area to select URL) Updated April 1, 2014. Accessed September 18, 2018. HIV treatment. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at:
https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/livingwithhiv/treatment.html. Updated August 27, 2018. Accessed September 18, 2018. Last reviewed September 2018 by EBSCO Medical Review Board
David L. Horn, MD, FACP Last Updated: 12/9/2020 | |
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