When someone is diagnosed with HIV, antiretroviral drugs, medications designed to block the replication of the human immunodeficiency virus. Also known as ARVs, they don’t cure HIV—but they turn it from a death sentence into a manageable condition. These drugs work by targeting different stages of the virus’s life cycle, keeping viral loads low and letting the immune system recover. Without them, HIV destroys CD4 cells, leaving the body open to serious infections. With consistent use, many people on antiretroviral therapy live just as long as those without HIV.
There are six main classes of antiretroviral drugs, groups of medications that interfere with HIV at specific points in its replication process. These include nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), protease inhibitors (PIs), integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs), fusion inhibitors, and CCR5 antagonists. Each class has its own role, and most treatment plans combine drugs from at least two classes to prevent resistance. For example, a common first-line combo might include tenofovir and emtricitabine (NRTIs) plus dolutegravir (an INSTI). You won’t find one drug that does it all—combination therapy is the standard for a reason.
Adherence is everything. Missing doses—even just one or two a week—can let the virus mutate and become resistant. That’s why many people now use fixed-dose combinations, where multiple drugs are packed into a single pill taken once a day. It’s simpler, easier to remember, and reduces side effects over time. But it’s not just about popping pills. Regular lab tests, like viral load and CD4 counts, are needed to track how well the treatment is working. And while side effects like nausea, headaches, or sleep issues can happen, most improve after a few weeks. Newer drugs have fewer long-term risks than older ones, like liver damage or bone loss.
Antiretroviral drugs aren’t just for treatment—they’re also used for prevention. PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, uses the same class of drugs to stop HIV from taking hold in someone who’s HIV-negative but at high risk. It’s not a magic shield, but when taken daily, it cuts transmission risk by over 90%. Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) works similarly, but it’s an emergency 28-day course taken within 72 hours after potential exposure.
What you’ll find in the posts below isn’t a list of every antiretroviral drug on the market. Instead, you’ll see real comparisons between similar treatments—like how one antiviral stacks up against another in cost, side effects, and long-term outcomes. You’ll also see how these drugs connect to broader health topics, from immune system support to managing other conditions that overlap with HIV care. These aren’t theoretical guides. They’re practical, grounded in what people actually experience when living with HIV and taking these medications every day.
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