Anti-Retroviral Drugs are medicines that prevent the reproduction of a type
of virus called a Retrovirus. The Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV), that
causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), is a Retrovirus.
Purpose
Anti-Retroviral Drugs are used to treat infection with the Human
Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV), the virus that causes AIDS. These medicines
cannot prevent or cure HIV infection, but they help keep the virus in check
to minimize other conditions caused by the virus, such as opportunistic
infections.
Like other Anti-viral Drugs,Anti-retroviral Drugs do not kill viruses,
because that could also damage or kill the cells the viruses have infected.
Instead, these drugs block steps in the process through which viruses
reproduce. In this way, Anti-retroviral Drugs slow down damage to the immune
system and allow people infected with HIV to feel better and lead more
normal lives. However, these drugs do not eliminate HIV, and they do not
completely restore the immune system. Although people who take these drugs
may feel well most of the time, they may still get serious infections and
have other health problems. Furthermore, Anti-retroviral Drugs do not
prevent the spread of HIV from an infected person to someone else. People
taking these drugs must still observe all precautions to avoid infecting
others.
There are three main types of Anti-retroviral Drugs:
- Nucleoside Analogs, or Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors
(NRTIs)
- Non-nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NNRTIs)
- Protease Inhibitors
Description
These drugs are all in the family of Anti-viral Drugs known as Nucleoside
Analogs or Nucleoside reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTIs). Drugs in
this family include Didanosine, Lamivudine, Stavudine, Zalcitabine and
Zidovudine. These medicines are available only with a physician's
prescription and come in liquid, tablet, capsule, and injectable forms.