Drugs Used for the Treatment of AIDS
AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is a disease that severely impairs the immune system. It is caused by HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and is considered the last stage of HIV infection. Anti-retrovirals are used to treat AIDS with the goal of suppressing the multiplication of the virus within the cells of the body.Currently, seven classes of anti-retrovirals exist. AIDS cannot be cured and the goal of treatment is to suppress the virus as long as possible and improve quality of life. Typically, a patient will take a combination of at least three of these drugs.
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NRTIs and NtRTIs
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Nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) block the replication of the HIV enzyme reverse transcriptase. These drugs include Retrovir, Epivir, Videx, Zerit and Ziagen. Emtriva, a newer drug, can treat HIV and hepatitis B, one of the possible infections a person with AIDS might acquire.
Nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NtRTIs) are very similar to NRTIs in that they keep the reverse transcriptase enzyme from multiplying itself and can be used to treat Hepatitis B; these treatments are prescribed to people who are resistant to NRTIs. Viread is currently the only approved drug in this class.
Protease inhibitors (PIs)
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Protease inhibitors (PIs) act on the HIV enzyme protease and cause the HIV particles to become noninfectious. PIs include Invirase, Norvir, Crixivan, Viracept, Agenerase, Kaletra, Revataz and Aptivus. Common side effects of protease inhibitors are nausea, diarrhea and other digestive issues. They also affect fat metabolism causing people to lose significant amounts of body fat or gain extra fat between the shoulders or in the stomach.
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Non-nucleoside reverse transriptase inhibitors
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Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors attach directly to the reverse transriptase enzyme. NNRTIs include Viramune, Rescriptor, Sustiva, Intelence. Many people experience a rash from using this class of drugs.
Fusion inhibitors
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Fusion inhibitors treat resistant strains of HIV that have not responded to other forms of treatment. They keep the membranes of infected cells from attaching to the membranes of healthy cells around them. Fuzeon is given by injection and is typically used on its own.
Integrase inhibitors
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Integrase inhibitors also treat resistant strains but are intended for use with other anti-retrovirals. They stop the replication of the integrase enzyme, which prevents HIV DNA from putting itself into human DNA. Isentress is currently the only integrase inhibitor.
Chemokine co-receptor inhibitors
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Chemokine co-receptor inhibitors (CCR5 antagonists) treat a specific type of HIV called CCR5-tropic HIV-1. Unlike other drugs that target the HIV virus, Selzentry acts on a human protein.
Treatment response
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The viral load (amount of HIV present in the body) is the measuring stick for how well your treatment regimen is working. It is measured before you start treatment and about every three to four months afterwards; for some it may be more frequently. These tests will determine if your treatment regimen needs to be modified. According to the Mayo Clinic, many new drugs are in development or are being tested in clinical trials currently. For information on new therapies, you can call AIDSinfo at 800-874-2572
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