Medicines to Help You
Use this guide to help you talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse about your HIV medicines. The guide lists all of the FDA-approved products now available to treat this condition. You will also fi nd some general information to help you use your medicines wisely.
HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. A person with HIV is called HIV positive (HIV+).
HIV makes it hard for your body to fight off sickness. There are cells in your blood called "CD4 cells" or "T cells". These cells help protect your body from disease. HIV kills these cells. A person with HIV does not have as many of these cells as a healthy person.
There is hope.
There are drugs that can treat HIV and help people live longer. These medicines help to keep the virus from building up in your body. These drugs do not stop you from spreading HIV. You can still give the disease to someone else.
People with HIV may need to take 3 or more different medicines every day. You and your doctor will decide which ones are right for you. It is important that you take your HIV medicines every day. Do not stop taking your medicines without talking to your doctor. Over time, you can get very sick if you do not take your medicines.
Use this guide to help you talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse about the HIV medicines you are taking. This guide provides some basic facts about the HIV medicines that have been approved by the FDA.
There are many things you can do to help improve your health.
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Women and HIV
Women from all backgrounds and cultures can get HIV. However, increasing numbers of African American and Latino women have HIV.
Learn the facts about women and HIV. Educate yourself to help you live longer. Educate yourself so that you can teach other women how to prevent HIV and AIDS.
Did you know?
Anti-HIV Medicines
The main drug treatment for people with HIV is Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (also called HAART). HAART drugs help to slow the growth of HIV in your body.
HAART is made up of four main kinds of medicines:
1. Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTIs)
2. Nonnucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NNRTIs)
3. Protease Inhibitors
4. Fusion Inhibitors
There are many different drugs in each of the four groups. The four different groups of HAART drugs are listed below. The brand names and generic names are listed for each drug.
Risks and Side Effects
The drugs used to treat HIV can sometimes cause side effects. Side effects may be different depending on the person and the kind of medicine. Some people have no side effects. Others can have very bad side effects.
Tell your doctor about any side effects you are having. Do not stop taking your medicine without talking to your doctor. Your doctor may tell you tips to help you cope with the side effects. The doctor may also decide to have you take different drugs.
This guide does not give the specific side effects or warnings for each HAART drug. Check the drug label and ask your doctor for the side effects and warnings for the HIV medicines you are taking.
Information about specific drugs can also be found on the FDA Web site at: Index to Drug-Specific Information
Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTIs)
Brand Name | Generic Name and Other Names |
---|---|
Combivir | Lamivudine and Zidovudine |
Emtriva | Emtricitabine FTC |
Epivir | Lamivudine 3TC |
Epzicom | Abacavir and Lamivudine |
Hivid | Zalcitabine Dideoxycytidine, ddC |
Retrovir | Zidovudine, AZT, Azidothymidine, ZDV |
Trizivir | Abacavir, Zidovudine and Lamivudine |
Truvada | Tenofovir Disoproxil and Emtricitabine |
Videx | Didanosine , ddl, Dideoxyinosine |
Videx EC | Enteric Coated Didanosine |
Viread | Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate, TDF |
Zerit | Stavudine d4T |
Ziagen | Abacavir Sulfate, ABC |
For up-to-date information about the risks and side effects for each drug Check Drugs @ FDA |
Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors: What You Should Know
This guide does not give the specific side effects or warnings for each drug. Check the drug label and ask your doctor for the side effects and warnings for the HIV medicines you are taking.
Warnings
Warning Signs
Call your doctor right away if you have any of these signs:
Common Side Effects
Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NNRTIs)
Brand Name | Generic Name and Other Names |
---|---|
Rescriptor | Delavirdine DLV |
Sustiva | Efavirenz EFV |
Viramune | Nevirapine NVP |
For up-to-date information about the risks and side effects for each drug Check Drugs @ FDA |
Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors: What You Should Know
This guide does not give the specific side effects or warnings for each drug. Check the drug label and ask your doctor for the side effects and warnings for the HIV medicines you are taking.
Warnings
Warning Signs
Call your doctor right away if you have any of these signs:
Also call your doctor right away if you have a severe rash along with blisters, swelling, pink eye, fever, muscle/ joint pain, or mouth sores.
Common Side Effects
Protease Inhibitors
Brand Name | Generic Name and Other Names |
---|---|
Agenerase | Amprenavir APV |
Aptivus | Tipranavir TPV |
Crixivan | Indinavir IDV, MK-639 |
Fortovase | Saquinavir (No Longer Marketed) |
Invirase | Saquinavir Mesylate SQV |
Kaletra | Lopinavir and Ritonavir LPV/RTV |
Lexiva | Fosamprenavir Calcium FOS-APV |
Norvir | Ritonavir RTV |
Prezista | Darunavir |
Reyataz | Atazanavir Sulfate ATV |
Viracept | Nelfinavir Mesylate NFV |
For up-to-date information about the risks and side effects for each drug Check Drugs @ FDA |
Protease Inhibitors: What You Should Know
This guide does not give the specific side effects or warnings for each drug. Check the drug label and ask your doctor for the side effects and warnings for the HIV medicines you are taking.
Warnings
Warning Signs
Call your doctor if you have any of these signs:
Common Side Effects
Fusion Inhibitors
Brand Name | Generic Name and Other Names |
---|---|
Fuzeon This medicine is a shot. |
Enfuvirtide T-20 |
For up-to-date information about the risks and side effects for each drug Check Drugs @ FDA |
Fusion Inhibitors: What You Should Know
This guide does not give the specific side effects or warnings for each drug. Check the drug label and ask your doctor for the side effects and warnings for the HIV medicines you are taking.
Warnings
Warning Signs
Fuzeon may cause serious allergic reactions. Call your doctor right away if you have any of these signs.
Common Side Effects
Multi-Class Combination Drugs
Brand Name | Generic Name and Other Names |
---|---|
Atripla | Efavirenz, Emtricitabine, and Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate |
For up-to-date information about the risks and side effects for each drug Check Drugs @ FDA |
Combination Drugs: What You Should Know
This guide does not give the specific side effects or warnings for each drug. Check the drug label and ask your doctor for the side effects and warnings for the HIV medicines you are taking.
Warnings
Warning Signs
Call your doctor right away if you have any of these signs:
Common Side Effects
Integrase Inhibitors
Brand Name | Generic Name and Other Names |
---|---|
Isentress | Raltegravir |
For up-to-date information about the risks and side effects for each drug Check Drugs @ FDA |
Integrase Inhibitors: What You Should Know
This guide does not give all of the specific side effects or warnings for each drug. Check the drug label and ask your doctor for the side effects and warnings for the HIV medicines you are taking.
Warnings
Warning Signs
You should also see your doctor right away if you have any of these signs:
Common Side Effects
Entry Inhibitors
Brand Name | Generic Name and Other Names |
---|---|
Selzentry | Maraviroc |
For up-to-date information about the risks and side effects for each drug Check Drugs @ FDA |
Entry Inhibitors: What You Should Know
This guide does not give the specific side effects or warnings for each drug. Check the drug label and ask your doctor for the side effects and warnings for the HIV medicines you are taking.
Warning Signs
Selzentry may cause serious liver problems. Call your doctor right away if you have any of these signs:
You should also see your doctor right away if you have any of these signs:
Serious Side Effects
Common Side Effects
Important Questions to Ask Your Doctor
Ask your doctor to tell you what you should know about your HIV medicines. Write down the important facts.
It is important that you take your HIV medicines exactly as your doctor tells you. Do not skip a pill. The medicines may not work correctly if you skip a pill.
Here are some tips to help you remember when to take your HIV medicines.
Time | Drug Name | Dose (How many Pills) |
Notes |
---|---|---|---|
6:30 | XXX (example) | 1 Pill | Take with food |
To Learn More
FDA Office of Special Health Issues
FDA HIV/AIDS Info
Drugs Used in the Treatment of HIV Infection
AIDSinfo
US Department of Health and Human Services
www.aidsinfo.nih.gov
Phone: 1-800-448-0440
TTY/TTD: 888-480-3739
US Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC)
US Department of Health and Human Services
www.cdc.gov/hiv/
Phone: 1-800-232-4636
TTY/TTD: 1-888-232-6348