Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, or AIDS, is a disease in which the patient's immune system has been destroyed by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Certain medications have proven highly effective in fighting HIV; this AIDS medication has extended the lives of AIDS patients by many years, according to the Mayo Clinic. There currently exists no means of curing AIDS.
Nucleoside/Nucleotide Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTIs)
According to the University of California San Francisco, nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) prevent the virus from duplicating, thus arresting the spread of HIV. Some examples of NRTIs listed by AIDSMEDS are Combivir, Emtriva, Retrovir, Trizivir and Zerit.
Taking combinations of two or more NRTIs makes it possible to decrease the dosage of each while ensuring the efficacy of the treatment. These drugs do have side effects, the most common of which include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, and in some cases organ failure. The Mayo Clinic says that NRTIs suppress bone marrow function, which results in lower levels of white and red blood cells.
Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors
Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NNRTIs) prevent HIV from infecting new cells by binding directly to the enzyme reverse transcriptase, which is used by the HIV virus to reproduce. NNRTIs are often used along with other anti-retroviral drugs According to AIDSMEDS, NNRTIs include Intelence, Rescriptor, Sustiva, Viramune and Rilpivirine.
Protease Inhibitors
The University of California San Francisco defines protease inhibitors as drugs that disrupt virus replication during a later phase in the virus' life cycle. The Mayo Clinic says that protease inhibitors cause HIV within the body to become disorganized and ultimately not infectious. AIDSMEDS lists some common protease inhibitors, including Agenerase, Aptivus, Kaletra, Lexiva and Prezista.
As with NRTIs, protease inhibitors have side effects, the most common of which are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, back pain, insomnia and changes in blood sugar and fat levels.
Fusion or Entry Inhibitors
According to the Mayo Clinic, fusion inhibitors work by keeping HIV from fusing with the membranes of healthy cells. This is especially useful in treating patients with advanced stages of infection, as well as those who have developed a resistance to other forms of drug treatments. Examples of fusion or entry inhibitors are Fuzeon, Selzentry, Vicriviroc, Ibalizumab and PRO 140.
Integrase Inhibitors
The Mayo Clinic defines integrase inhibitors as drugs that prevent the replication of HIV by stopping the production of the integrase enzyme. Integrase inhibitors are meant to be used in conjunction with other anti-retroviral drugs. Some examples of Integrase inhibitors include Isentress, GSK-572 and Elvitegravir, according to AIDSMEDS. Integrase inhibitors may also cause side effects, which include diarrhea, nausea, headache and fever.
