What is Antiretroviral therapy?
Antiretroviral therapy (also referred to as ARVs) are medications that treat HIV. These types of drugs do not kill or cure the virus. In combinations with other drugs ARVs can retard or prevent the growth of the virus. When the growth of the virus has been reduced so has the HIV disease.
There are 6 classes of commonly used ARV drugs in use
- Nucleoside or Nucleotide Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors
- Abacabir
- Didanosin
- Emtricitabine
- Lamivudine
- Stavudine
- Tenofovir
- Non-nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors
- Efavirenz
- Etravirine
- Nevirapine
- Rilpivirine
- Protease Inhibitors
- Atazanavir
- Darunavir
- Fosamprenavir
- Indinavir
- Lopinavir
- Ritonavir
- Saquinavir
- Tipranavir
- Integrase Inhibitors
- Raltegravir
- Fusion Inhibitors
- Enfuvirtide
- CCR5 Antagonists
- Maraviroc
Do ARVs cure Aids?
ARVs reduce the amount of virus detected in the bloodstream at a given time (the viral load). AVRs are not considered a cure for HIV/ AIDS.
Viral Loads and ARVs
To know the viral load at a given moment a blood test must be taken as the viral load readings can fluctuate. The level of the viral load is what causes a person to be more or less likely to transmit the disease to others. Some people may test as “undetectable” meaning that the amount of virus in the blood is lower than the amount a blood test can measure. This does not mean that the the person is negative or cannot transmit the disease. An undetectable status does suggests that a person will stay healthier longer and is also less likely to transmit HIV infection to others.
What are the benefits of ARVs?
- AVRs are effective in reducing the viral load
- ARVs are easier to take than it usd to b. A lot of people with HIV just take one pill once a day.
- You have lots of drug combinations. There are six classes of antiretroviral drugs for HIV and more than 30 drugs.
- They are generally more affordable compared to other options.
What are the common side effects of ARVs?
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Loss of appetite
- Rashes
- Increase of Lipids in the blood
- Fatigue
- Muscle aches
- Dizziness
- Mood Changes
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Paranoia
- Hyper sensitivity
- Low hormones levels
- Insomnia
- Anemia
- Increased urination
- Frequent thirst
- Weight loss
- Jaundice
What are the long term complications from using ARVs?
- Bleeding
- Bone loss
- Heart disease
- High blood sugar and diabetes
- High lactic acid levels in the blood (lactic acidosis)
- Kidney, liver, or pancreas damage
- Numbness, burning, or pain in the hands or feet caused by nerve problems
- Gain or Loss of fat in a disfiguring manner