A to Z of antiretroviral drugs

Prior to using a new medication, there are certain issues that should be discussed before the first dose is taken. This should include a clear understanding of the following:

  • The reasons for selecting a particular treatment regimen.
  • A drug/regimen's past efficacy and expected treatment outcomes.
  • All dosing issues, including how a medication is taken, how often, how much, and when.
  • Likely and/or potential treatment side-effects.
  • An awareness of the difference between an 'expected' reaction and a severe adverse reaction that merits checking in with the clinic.
  • Possible interactions with other drugs the person is already taking.

Knowing in advance that a drug often causes a certain reaction (for instance, headache, rash, or stomach pain) to some extent prepares someone to handle the problem. Generally, the fewer surprises involved, the better it is for everyone involved.

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  • Biktarvy

    Biktarvy is a fixed-dose combination tablet. It combines 50mg of bictegravir, 200mg of emtricitabine and 25mg of tenofovir alafenamide. Biktarvy is manufactured by Gilead Sciences. Bictegravir is

  • Darunavir (Prezista)

    Information on the protease inhibitor darunavir (Prezista).

  • Delstrigo

    Delstrigo is a fixed-dose combination tablet containing doravirine, lamivudine and tenofovir disoproxil. Delstrigo is manufactured by Merck. Doravirine is a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor also marketed alone as Pifeltro. Tenofovir

  • Descovy

    Descovy (TAF/emtricitabine) is a fixed-dose tablet combining 200mg of emtricitabine and either 25mg or 10mg of tenofovir alafenamide (TAF). It is manufactured by Gilead Sciences. Emtricitabine is a nucleoside

  • Dolutegravir (Tivicay)

    Information on dolutegravir (Tivicay).

  • Doravirine (Pifeltro)

    Doravirine (Pifeltro) is an anti-HIV drug that reduces the amount of virus in the body. It belongs to the class of drugs known as non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs).

  • Efavirenz (Sustiva)

    Information on efavirenz (Sustiva), including dosing, effectiveness, side-effects, resistance and drug interactions.

  • Efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil (Atripla)

    Atripla is a fixed-dose tablet combining 600mg efavirenz, 200mg FTC (emtricitabine), and 245mg tenofovir, manufactured jointly by Bristol-Myers Squibb and Gilead Sciences. Efavirenz is a non-nucleoside reverse

  • Elvitegravir

    Information on elvitegravir (Vitekta).

  • Emtricitabine (Emtriva)

    Information on emtricitabine (FTC, Emtriva), including dosing, effectiveness, side-effects, resistance and drug interactions.

  • Emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil (Truvada)

    Truvada is a fixed-dose combination tablet combining 200mg FTC (emtricitabine) and 245mg tenofovir. It is manufactured by Gilead Sciences. FTC is a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI)

  • Etravirine (Intelence)

    Information on etravirine (Intelence).

  • Eviplera

    Eviplera is a fixed-dose tablet combining 25mg rilpivirine, 200mg FTC (emtricitabine), and 245mg tenofovir, manufactured jointly by Johnson & Johnson/Tibotec and Gilead Sciences. Rilpivirine is a non-nucleoside

  • Evotaz

    Evotaz is a fixed-dose combination tablet containing 300mg of atazanavir and 150mg of cobicistat. Atazanavir is an HIV protease inhibitor. Cobicistat is used to boost blood levels

  • Genvoya

    Genvoya is a fixed-dose tablet combining 150mg of elvitegravir, 150mg of cobicistat, 200mg of emtricitabine and 10mg of tenofovir alafenamide (TAF). It is manufactured by Gilead Sciences. Elvitegravir is

  • Juluca

    Juluca is a fixed-dose combination tablet containing two anti-HIV drugs, dolutegravir and rilpivirine. Juluca is manufactured and marketed by ViiV Healthcare. Dolutegravir is an integrase inhibitor also marketed

  • Kaletra

    Lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra, Aluvia) is a protease inhibitor drug available in tablet and solution form. Lopinavir is marketed only with a boosting dose of ritonavir; ritonavir is marketed separately as Norvir.

  • Lamivudine (Epivir)

    Information on lamivudine (3TC, Epivir), including dosing, effectiveness, side-effects, resistance and drug interactions.

  • Maraviroc (Celsentri)

    Maraviroc (known by the trade name Celsentri in Europe and Selzentry in the United States) is the first drug to be licensed from a new class of antiretrovirals called

  • Nevirapine (Viramune)

    Nevirapine (Viramune) is an anti-HIV drug that reduces the amount of virus in the body. Anti-HIV drugs such as nevirapine slow down damage to the immune system and

  • Odefsey

    Odefsey is a fixed-dose tablet combining 25mg of rilpivirine, 200mg of emtricitabine and 25mg of tenofovir alafenamide (TAF). It is manufactured by Gilead Sciences. Rilpivirine is a non-nucleoside reverse

  • Raltegravir (Isentress)

    Raltegravir (Isentress) is an HIV-1 integrase strand-transfer inhibitor with potent antiretroviral activity. It belongs to a new class of antiretrovirals called integrase inhibitors. The drug works against HIV's integrase protein,

  • Rezolsta

    Rezolsta is a fixed-dose tablet containing 800mg of darunavir and 150mg of cobicistat. Darunavir is an HIV protease inhibitor. Cobicistat is used to boost blood levels of

  • Rilpivirine (Edurant)

    Rilpivirine (Edurant), previously known as TMC278) is a second-generation non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI), developed by Johnson & Johnson/Tibotec. Rilpivirine was submitted for licensing in

  • Ritonavir (Norvir)

    Ritonavir (Norvir) is a protease inhibitor, an anti-HIV drug that reduces the amount of virus in the body. Anti-HIV drugs such as ritonavir slow down or prevent

  • Stribild

    Stribild is a fixed-dose tablet combining 150mg elvitegravir, 200mg emtricitabine, and 245mg tenofovir disoproxil, along with 150mg cobicistat, a boosting agent. It is manufactured by Gilead

  • Symtuza

    Symtuza is a fixed-dose combination tablet containing darunavir, cobicistat, tenofovir alafenamide and emtricitabine. Darunavir is a protease inhibitor also marketed as Prezista and in combination with cobicistat as Rezolsta. Cobicistat is

  • Tenofovir (Viread)

    Tenofovir (Viread) is an antiviral drug that is approved for the treatment of HIV infection. It is able to reduce the amount of HIV in

  • Triumeq

    Triumeq is a fixed-dose tablet containing 50mg of dolutegravir, 600mg of abacavir and 300mg of lamivudine. Triumeq is manufactured by ViiV Healthcare. Dolutegravir is an HIV integrase inhibitor also

  • Zidovudine (AZT, Retrovir)

    Information on AZT (zidovudine, Retrovir), including its effectiveness, side-effects, drug interactions and use in pregnant women and children.

Community Consensus Statement on Access to HIV Treatment and its Use for Prevention

Together, we can make it happen

We can end HIV soon if people have equal access to HIV drugs as treatment and as PrEP, and have free choice over whether to take them.

Launched today, the Community Consensus Statement is a basic set of principles aimed at making sure that happens.

The Community Consensus Statement is a joint initiative of AVAC, EATG, MSMGF, GNP+, HIV i-Base, the International HIV/AIDS Alliance, ITPC and NAM/aidsmap
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This content was checked for accuracy at the time it was written. It may have been superseded by more recent developments. NAM recommends checking whether this is the most current information when making decisions that may affect your health.

NAM’s information is intended to support, rather than replace, consultation with a healthcare professional. Talk to your doctor or another member of your healthcare team for advice tailored to your situation.