HIV/AIDS Medicines Summary In the early 1980s, when the HIV/AIDS epidemic began, patients rarely lived longer than a few years. But today, there are many effective medicines to fight the infection, and people with HIV have longer, healthier lives. There are five major types of medicines: Reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitors – interfere with a critical step during the HIV life cycle and keep the virus from making copies of itself Protease inhibitors – interfere with a protein that HIV uses to make infectious viral particles Fusion inhibitors – block the virus from entering the body’s cells Integrase inhibitors – block an enzyme HIV needs to make copies of itself Multidrug combinations – combine two or more different types of drugs into one These medicines help people with HIV, but they are not perfect. They do not cure HIV/AIDS. People with HIV infection still have the virus in their bodies. They can still spread HIV to others through unprotected sex and needle sharing, even when they are taking their medicines. NIH: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Find an Expert AIDS.gov AIDS.gov AIDSinfo Department of Health and Human Services NIAID Division of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Start Here AIDSinfo Drug Database AIDSinfo HIV and AIDS: Medicines to Help You Food and Drug Administration HIV Treatment: The Basics AIDSinfo Taking Current Antiretroviral Drugs New Mexico AIDS Education and Training Center Treatment for HIV Department of Veterans Affairs Treatment of HIV Infection National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Types of HIV/AIDS Antiretroviral Drugs National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Reference Desk AIDSinfo Glossary AIDSinfo Specifics Antiretroviral Drugs Used in the Treatment of HIV Infection Food and Drug Administration Approved Generic Formulations of Antiretroviral Drugs Used in the Treatment of HIV Infection Food and Drug Administration Children Approved Antiretroviral Drugs Used for Pediatric Treatment of HIV Infection Food and Drug Administration Related Issues Are You Taking Medication as Prescribed? Food and Drug Administration Blood Sugar and Fats New Mexico AIDS Education and Training Center Body Composition Tests New Mexico AIDS Education and Training Center Body Shape Changes (Lipodystrophy) New Mexico AIDS Education and Training Center CDC Vital Signs: HIV Care Saves Lives Drug Dosing Toolkit Department of Veterans Affairs Drug Interactions New Mexico AIDS Education and Training Center Drug Resistance AIDSinfo Following an HIV Regimen: Steps to Take Before and After Starting HIV Medicines AIDSinfo HIV Medication Adherence AIDSinfo HIV Medicines and Side Effects AIDSinfo HIV Resistance Testing New Mexico AIDS Education and Training Center HIV Treatment Adherence AIDS.gov Mitochondrial Toxicity New Mexico AIDS Education and Training Center PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis) 101 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Peripheral Neuropathy New Mexico AIDS Education and Training Center Post-Exposure Prophylaxis AIDS.gov Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) AIDS.gov PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) 101 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Recreational Drugs and HIV New Mexico AIDS Education and Training Center Side Effects New Mexico AIDS Education and Training Center Side Effects of HIV Medicines: HIV and Diabetes AIDSinfo Side Effects of HIV Medicines: HIV and Hepatotoxicity AIDSinfo Side Effects of HIV Medicines: HIV and Hyperlipidemia AIDSinfo Side Effects of HIV Medicines: HIV and Lactic Acidosis AIDSinfo Side Effects of HIV Medicines: HIV and Lipodystrophy AIDSinfo Side Effects of HIV Medicines: HIV and Osteoporosis AIDSinfo Side Effects of HIV Medicines: HIV and Rash AIDSinfo What to Start: Selecting a First HIV Regimen AIDSinfo When to Start Antiretroviral Therapy AIDSinfo Prevention and Risk Factors CDC Vital Signs: Daily Pill Can Prevent HIV Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Anti-HIV Agents National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: Anti-HIV Agents National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: HIV Infections National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis National Institutes of Health Images Drugs That Fight HIV-1 AIDSinfo Statistics and Research Efavirenz and the Risk for Suicidal Behaviors American College of Physicians Array FDA-Approved HIV Medicines AIDSinfo Videos and Tutorials HIV Medications and Risk for Cardiovascular Disease American Heart Association Journal Articles HIV/AIDS Medicines
