AIDS

Antiretroviral therapy

Introduction Antiretroviral therapies (ART) have revolutionised HIV care, transforming what was once an almost invariably fatal illness into a treatable chronic disease. ARTs enable those with HIV, in many cases, to live near-normal lives (depending on factors such as stage at diagnosis). There are six major classes of medication; entry inhibitors, nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), integrase inhibitors, protease inhibitors and post-attachment inhibitors. The options available allow for changes to be made in light of resistance patterns, experienced side effects and personal risk factors. As a general rule, regimens consist of: Two nucleoside reverse transcriptase

HIV and AIDS medicines

Key facts If you are diagnosed with HIV in Australia, you’re likely to live a long, healthy life if you’re careful to take your medication. There are five types of medicines used for HIV and your doctor will prescribe you a combination of three of them. Be careful not to skip drug doses, to reduce your chance of developing resistance to treatment. Tell your doctor about any side effects from HIV drugs, as these can usually be managed effectively. If your HIV viral load is undetectable, then you can have sex without any risk of passing on HIV to your