HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus transferred from person to person through direct contact with body fluids like blood. Once the HIV has entered the body it affects the immune system and gradually invades the T cells, which contain white blood cells responsible for fighting off bodily infections. During this invasion, the HIV virus multiplies and releases stronger viral cells, which speed up infection rates throughout the body. This ultimately weakens the person’s immunity leaving the patient very susceptible to other viruses and infections (i.e., pneumonia).
Since there is no cure for HIV,  HIV patients rely on antiretroviral drugs to manage the virus load, fight and slow infection rates, and live a healthy life. If taken as prescribed, HIV 1 treatment drugs can lower the possibility of transmitting the virus to other healthy individuals, control the multiplication of the virus, and boost the immunity of the patient. Read on for a list of antiretroviral drugs that are approved by the FDA for HIV prevention:

1. Nucleoside or nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs)
NRTIs are also referred to as “nukes.” They function by interrupting the life cycle of HIV when it tries to multiply itself, making the process of replication to reduce. The list of NRTIs drugs includes abacavir, emtricitabine and lamivudine among others.

2. Combination drugs
Combination drugs are made up of two or more HIV medicines from one drug class. It is usually used to treat people who have never used HIV medication before. These combinations include; PI and a CYPA3A inhibitor, NRTIs, and NNRTIs, NRTI and INSTI among others.

3. Protease inhibitors (PIs)
Protease inhibitors (PIs) work by attaching themselves to enzyme protease. HIV requires protease to multiply in the body hence by binding to protease the virus’s process of replication is affected reducing the rate viruses can infect more cells. The list of Pls drugs used to treat HIV include atazanavir, darunavir fosamprenavir, lopinavir among others. Pls should be given together with other HIV medications to generate a complete regimen.

4. Integrase inhibitors
Integrase inhibitors work by preventing the incorporation of HIV’s DNA into the patient’s cells. This is achieved by inhibiting a viral enzyme called integrase. The following is a list of these drugs; cabotegravir, dolutegravir and raltegravir.

5. Entry or fusion inhibitors
HIV requires a host T cell to replicate itself. Entry or fusion inhibitors block the HIV virus from invading the host T cell hence preventing replication of the virus. This drug is rarely used because other drugs are more effective than it. Enfuvirtide is the only fusion inhibitor available.

6. Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs)
NNRTIs are also referred to as “non-nukes”. They function by binding to specific proteins stopping the virus from making copies of itself in the patient’s body. These drugs include; doravirine, efavirenz, etravirine, nevirapine, and rilpivirine. Keep in mind, these are rarely used anymore since their production ended in 2018.

These HIV drugs have some side effects when used for the first time, which include; diarrhea, dizziness, headache, fatigue, fever, nausea, rash among others. These side effects are usually in the first few weeks. If they persist you should consult a healthcare provider.