HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus — and if left untreated can lead to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, commonly known as AIDS. HIV is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system, leaving the person with HIV prone to infections/diseases. It can leave the immune system too weak to fight off infections and/or disease. When opportunistic infections or cancers take advantage of the extremely weakened immune system, this is the last state of HIV infection and is known as AIDS.
HIV can be transmittable, and because no outward symptoms is shown during the early stages of the infection, the only way to know for certain if you have HIV is to get tested. There are currently no cure for HIV, but the virus can be managed and controlled with proper treatment and care.
How is HIV Treated?
A treatment called antiretroviral therapy (ART) is the most common way to treat HIV. ART controls the virus so that it is possible for those with HIV to live a longer, healthier life. It also reduces the risk of transmitting HIV to others.
ART involves taking a combination of HIV medicines — also known as HIV regimen — every day, as prescribed. The combinations of these medicines will vary depending on the individual. Although there are many different kinds, generally HIV medicines work to prevent HIV from continuously making copies of itself, and as a result reduces the amount of the virus in your body. Having less HIV means that your immune system has a chance to recover and be strong enough to fight off potential infections and cancers, as well as reduces the risk of transmitting the virus to others.
ART is recommended to all those with HIV regardless of health or for how long they’ve had the virus. Without the treatment of ART, HIV will progress to become AIDS.
HIV Drug Classes
As mentioned, ART involves taking a combination of HIV medicines. These medicines are grouped into six drug classes in accordance to how they each fight HIV, and they are:
- Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs)
- Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs)
- Protease inhibitors (PIs)
- Fusion inhibitors
- CCR5 antagonists (CCR5s, or entry inhibitors)
- Integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs)
Each drug class includes more than 25 HIV medicines that are approved to treat HIV. Some of these medicines can be combined into one pill.
The U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recommend starting ART with three HIV medicines that are from at least two of the six drug classes. For more information on these HIV medicines, NIH AIDSInfo site provides a complete list of FDA-Approved HIV medicines that are grouped by class. Additionally, there is a full-color, illustrated guide to approved HIV medications that can be found if you search for NIAID’s Drugs that Fight HIV.
Choosing an HIV Regimen
Choice and combination of HIV medicines will depend on each individual’s needs. These are some factors to keep in mind when deciding which HIV regimen is best for those who have HIV:
- Other diseases or health conditions
- Possible side effects from the HIV medicines
- Possible interactions between the HIV medicines, or between the HIV medicines and other medicines the patient might already be taking
- Whether or not the HIV medicine is effective against the HIV (this can be found through drug-resistance testing as well as other similar tests)
- Convenience of the regimen. For example, it can be easier for some to follow their medication if the HIV medicines you have chosen can be combined to one pill.
- Issues that can make it hard to follow the treatment, such as a schedule that changes daily
- Cost of the HIVE medicines
There are several HIV regimens/combinations of medicines that already exist and are recommended, however the best regimen to treat HIV is often dependent on the factors that are mentioned above. It is important to talk to discuss your HIV regimen with your doctor before starting on the medicines and beginning ART.
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