Antiretroviral Drugs

Definition

Antiretroviral drugs are medications used to treat infections caused by retroviruses, primarily HIV. They work by inhibiting the virus's ability to replicate within the human body.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) typically involves a combination of at least three antiretroviral drugs from different classes.
2. The main classes of antiretroviral drugs include NRTIs, NNRTIs, PIs, INSTIs, and entry inhibitors.
3. Adherence to ART is crucial for preventing viral resistance and maintaining viral suppression.
4. Common side effects of antiretroviral drugs can include nausea, diarrhea, and lipid abnormalities.
5. Early initiation of ART improves health outcomes and reduces the risk of HIV transmission.

Review Questions

• What is the primary goal of antiretroviral therapy?
• Name at least two classes of antiretroviral drugs and their mechanisms of action.
• Why is adherence to antiretroviral therapy important?

Related terms

NRTIs:

Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors block reverse transcriptase, an enzyme HIV needs to replicate.

PIs:

Protease Inhibitors prevent HIV from maturing by inhibiting the protease enzyme.

INSTIs:

Integrase Strand Transfer Inhibitors block integrase, an enzyme that integrates viral DNA into the host genome.