Currently, there are eight FDA-approved NRTIs:
abacavir (ABC, Ziagen), didanosine (ddI, Videx)
, emtricitabine (FTC, Emtriva), lamivudine (3TC, Epivir), stavudine (d4T, Zerit), zalcitabine (ddC, Hivid), zidovudine (AZT, Retrovir), and Tenofovir disoprovil fumarate (TDF, Viread), a nucleotide RT inhibitor (Fig.
Each drug included in the combination therapy serves a unique purpose, but together they work to accomplish several important goals: Prevent the virus from replicating and reduce viral load.
Help restore CD4 counts and immune function
. Reduce complications from HIV and improve survival.
Nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor
- Atazanavir or ATV (Reyataz)
- Darunavir or DRV (Prezista)
- Fosamprenavir or FPV (Lexiva)
- Indinavir or IDV (Crixivan)
- Lopinavir + ritonavir, or LPV/r (Kaletra)
- Nelfinavir or NFV (Viracept)
- Ritonavir or RTV (Norvir)
The guidelines state that the primary goals of antiretroviral therapy are
to maintain maximal suppression of the viral load (i.e., fewer than 50 copies per mL)
, restore or preserve immunologic function, improve quality of life and reduce HIV-related morbidity and mortality.
Is AZT still used?
Today,
AZT is not used on its own
, because single-drug therapy (monotherapy) leads to drug resistance. There is a great deal of evidence that AZT is safe for pregnant women and the fetus when used according to guidelines.
Can ARVs make you fat?
In the early years after highly effective antiretroviral treatment became available (1996-2006), fat loss from the limbs and fat gain in the abdomen were common among people taking antiretroviral treatment. These changes in body fat were known as the lipodystrophy syndrome.
How long can a person taking ARVs live?
A 2017 study in the journal AIDS found that the additional life expectancy for people with HIV at age 20 during the early monotherapy era was 11.8 years. However, that number rose to
54.9 years
for the most recent combination antiretroviral era.
What is a normal CD4 count in a healthy person?
A normal CD4 count ranges from
500–1,200 cells/mm
3
in adults and teens. In general, a normal CD4 count means that your immune system is not yet significantly affected by HIV infection.
What is Superman drug?
A deadly pink pill bearing the Superman logo and being sold as
ecstasy
has prompted a ‘red alert’, amid fears it could be making its way to the UK.
What are the side effects of AZT?
- stomach pain or cramps.
- heartburn.
- diarrhea (especially in children)
- constipation.
- headache.
- difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.
Do ARVs make you hungry?
1. Increased appetite with ART. In many cases, participants reported that
ARVs significantly increased their appetite
, which caused difficulties for those already struggling to feed themselves and their families.
What happens if you take ARVs while negative?
“When a HIV-positive person is given ARVs, it boosts their immunity, but when a HIV-negative person takes them,
it just undermines their immunity and interferes with their body organs
.”
Include a variety of vitamin and mineral rich foods.
Fruits, vegetables, whole grains
, low-fat dairy and lean protein choices contain vitamins and minerals that help the body function.
What are signs of low CD4 count?
Symptoms may include
fever, cough, difficulty breathing, weight loss, night sweats and fatigue
. It is most likely to occur when the CD4+ T cell count falls below 200 cells per cubic millimeter of blood.
Viral load is measured in units called ‘copies’. The standard blood tests used in UK clinics can measure viral load down to 20 or 50
copies per millilitre of blood
. Anything less than this is called ‘undetectable’. If someone has an undetectable viral load, it does not mean they are cured of HIV.
