PHARMACOLOGIC TX

 Combination antiretroviral therapy (also referred to as highly active antiretroviral therapy) is the cornerstone of
management of patients with HIV infection.
 Suppression of HIV replication is important in prolonging life as well as improving the QL of px with HIV infxn.
 This requires strict adherence to prescribed regimens of antiretroviral drugs.
 Four categories:
o Nucleoside, nonnucleoside and nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors: inhibit the viral reverse
transcriptase enzyme.
o Protease inhibitors: inhibit the viral protease enzyme
o Integrase inhibitors: inhibit the viral integrase enzyme
o Fusion inhibitors and CCR5 antagonists: interfere with viral entry