A class of drugs known as antiretroviral medicines is intended to treat illnesses brought on by retroviruses, of which HIV is the most well-known example. By focusing on various phases of the HIV life cycle, these medications aid in the suppression of the virus's activities within the body.Since their inception in the 1980s, antiretroviral medications have completely changed the way that HIV/AIDS is treated. These drugs function by obstructing several phases of the HIV life cycle, which stops the virus from proliferating and lowers the body's viral load. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) aims to suppress the virus to undetectable levels, so minimizing the danger of transmission to others, promoting immune system recovery.Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors are a major family of antiretroviral medicines (NRTIs). NRTIs that resemble the building blocks of DNA include tenofovir (TDF), lamivudine (3TC), and zidovudine (AZT). These medications are integrated into the viral DNA, stopping the virus's attempt to replicate and stopping it from spreading further. However, continued use may result in suppression of the bone marrow and mitochondrial toxicity.Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), which include nevirapine and efavirenz, constitute another class. By binding to the reverse transcriptase enzyme, these medications change its structure and prevent it from working. Although NNRTIs are good at lowering viral loads, they can also have negative side effects include rash and liver damage. To increase their effectiveness, they are frequently used in conjunction with other kinds of antiretrovirals.A powerful class of antiretrovirals known as protease inhibitors (PIs) inhibits the protease enzyme, which is essential for the virus to develop into an infectious form. Medications such as darunavir and ritonavir stop the virus from making useful proteins, therefore stopping the infection's ability to replicate. PIs have played a significant role in lowering mortality and raising the standard of living for HIV-positive individuals. They may, however, have serious medication interactions and adverse metabolic consequences, such as insulin resistance and lipodystrophy.A more recent class of antiretrovirals called integrase inhibitors works by inhibiting the integrase enzyme, which stops the viral DNA from integrating into the DNA of the host cell. Medication such as dolutegravir and raltegravir has a low risk of resistance and is very effective. Due to their effectiveness and tolerability, they are frequently chosen, yet there are some worries about the long-term consequences on bone health. Known as highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), combination therapy uses medications from several classes to attack HIV at various stages of the virus' life cycle. For many people, this strategy has changed HIV/AIDS from a deadly illness to a chronic condition that they can manage. Following prescription guidelines is essential to preventing the emergence of HIV strains that are resistant to drugs.To sum up, antiretroviral drugs are essential for treating HIV/AIDS because they prevent the virus from replicating and strengthen the immune system. Newer and more potent medications are always being developed and researched in order to enhance the quality of life and results for those with this illness.
