WHAT ARE COMBINATION MEDICATIONS? Combination medications are pills, tablets, or injections that contain more than one medication to treat HIV. They are listed in the tables below. Pharmaceutical companies have been working hard to make their medications easier to take. Part of this effort has… Read More

OVERVIEW HIV attacks cells within the body’s immune system. To spread, the virus needs to enter these cells and make copies of itself. The copies are then released from these cells and infect other cells. Treatment with integrase inhibitors is one way to help stop… Read More

OVERVIEW HIV attacks cells within the body’s immune system. To spread, the virus needs to enter these cells and make copies of itself. The copies are then released from these cells and infect other cells. Treatment with protease inhibitors (PIs) is one way to help… Read More

OVERVIEW HIV attacks cells within the body’s immune system. To spread, the virus needs to enter these cells and make copies of itself. The copies are then released from these cells and infect other cells. Treatment with entry inhibitors is one way to help stop… Read More

OVERVIEW HIV attacks cells within the body’s immune system. To spread, the virus needs to enter these cells and make copies of itself. The copies are then released from these cells and infect other cells. Treatment with pharmacokinetic enhancers is one way to help stop… Read More

WHAT IS KALETRA? Kaletra is a drug used as part of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Kaletra contains two antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) combined in one tablet: lopinavir (LPV) ritonavir (RTV, Norvir) The FDA approved Kaletra in 2000 as an ARV for people with HIV infection. Generic versions… Read More

WHAT IS EPZICOM? Epzicom is a drug used as part of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Epzicom contains two antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) combined in one tablet: abacavir (ABC, Ziagen) lamivudine (3TC, Epivir) The FDA approved Epzicom in 2004 as an ARV for people with HIV infection. Generic… Read More

WHAT IS TRUVADA? Truvada is a drug used as part of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Truvada contains two antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) combined in one tablet: emtricitabine (FTC, Emtriva) tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (tenofovir DF, TDF, Viread) The FDA approved Truvada in 2004… Read More

WHAT IS ATRIPLA? Atripla is a drug used as part of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Atripla contains three antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) combined in one tablet: efavirenz (EFV, Sustiva) emtricitabine (FTC, Emtriva) tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (tenofovir DF, TDF, Viread) The FDA approved Atripla in 2006 as an… Read More

WHAT IS COMPLERA? Complera is a complete HIV regimen used as part of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Complera contains three antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) combined in one tablet: emtricitabine (FTC, Emtriva) rilpivirine (RPV, Edurant) tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (tenofovir DF, TDF, Viread) The FDA approved Complera in 2011… Read More

WHAT IS STRIBILD? Stribild is a complete HIV regimen used as part of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Stribild contains four antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) combined in one tablet: elvitegravir (Vitekta) cobicistat (COBI, Tybost) emtricitabine (FTC, Emtriva) tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (tenofovir DF, TDF, Viread) The FDA approved Stribild… Read More

WHAT IS TRIUMEQ? Triumeq is a drug used as part of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Triumeq contains three antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) combined in one tablet: abacavir (ABC, Ziagen) dolutegravir (DTG, Tivicay) lamivudine (3TC, Epivir) The FDA approved Triumeq in 2014 as an ARV for people with… Read More

WHAT IS PREZCOBIX? Prezcobix is a drug used as part of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Prezcobix contains two antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) combined in one tablet: darunavir (DRV, Prezista) cobicistat (COBI, Tybost) The FDA approved Prezcobix in 2015 as an ARV for people with HIV infection. Prezcobix… Read More

WHAT IS EVOTAZ? Evotaz is a drug used as part of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Evotaz contains two antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) combined in one tablet: atazanavir (ATV, Reyataz) cobicistat (COBI, Tybost) The FDA approved Evotaz in 2015 as an ARV for people with HIV infection. Evotaz… Read More

WHAT IS GENVOYA? Genvoya is a complete HIV regimen used as part of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Genvoya contains four antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) combined in one tablet: elvitegravir (Vitekta) cobicistat (COBI, Tybost) emtricitabine (FTC, Emtriva) tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (tenofovir AF, TAF, Vemlidy) The FDA approved Genvoya… Read More

WHAT IS DESCOVY? Descovy is a drug used as part of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Descovy contains two antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) combined in one tablet: emtricitabine (FTC, Emtriva) tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (tenofovir AF, TAF, Vemlidy) The FDA approved Descovy in 2015… Read More

WHAT IS ODEFSEY? Odefsey is a drug used as part of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Odefsey contains three antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) combined in one tablet: emtricitabine (FTC, Emtriva) rilpivirine (RPV, Edurant) tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (tenofovir AF, TAF, Vemlidy) The FDA approved Odefsey in 2016 as an… Read More

WHAT IS JULUCA? Juluca is a complete HIV regimen used as part of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Juluca contains two antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) combined in one tablet: dolutegravir (DTG, Tivicay) rilpivirine (RPV, Edurant) The FDA approved Juluca in 2017 as an ARV for people with HIV… Read More

WHAT IS BIKTARVY? Biktarvy is a complete HIV regimen used as part of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Biktarvy contains three antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) combined in one tablet: bictegravir emtricitabine (FTC, Emtriva) tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (tenofovir AF, TAF, Vemlidy) The FDA approved Biktarvy in 2018 as an… Read More

WHAT ARE SYMFI AND SYMFI-LO? Symfi and Symfi-Lo are complete HIV regimens used as part of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Symfi and Symfi-Lo contain three antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) combined in one tablet: efavirenz (EFV, Sustiva) lamivudine (3TC, Epivir) tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (tenofovir DF, TDF, Viread) The… Read More

WHAT IS CIMDUO? Cimduo is a drug used as part of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Cimduo contains two antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) combined in one tablet: lamivudine (3TC, Epivir) tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (tenofovir DF, TDF, Viread) The FDA approved Cimduo in 2018 as an ARV for people… Read More

WHAT IS DELSTRIGO? Delstrigo is a complete HIV regimen used as part of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Delstrigo contains three antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) combined in one tablet: doravirine (DOR, Pifeltro) lamivudine (3TC, Epivir) tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (tenofovir DF, TDF, Viread) The FDA approved Delstrigo in 2018… Read More

WHAT IS SYMTUZA? Symtuza is a complete HIV regimen used as part of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Symtuza contains four antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) combined in one tablet: darunavir (DRV, Prezista) cobicistat (COBI, Tybost) emtricitabine (FTC, Emtriva) tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (tenofovir AF, TAF, Vemlidy) The FDA approved… Read More

WHAT IS DOVATO? Dovato is a complete HIV regimen used as part of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Dovato contains two antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) combined in one tablet: dolutegravir (DTG, Tivicay) lamivudine (3TC, Epivir) The FDA approved Dovato in 2019 as an ARV for people with HIV… Read More

WHAT IS CABENUVA? Cabenuva is a long-acting, complete HIV regimen used as part of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Cabenuva combines two antiretroviral drugs (ARVs): cabotegravir extended-release injectable suspension rilpivirine extended-release injectable suspension The FDA approved Cabenuva in 2021 as an ARV for people with HIV infection.… Read More

WHAT IS ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY (ART)? Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is a group of medications that treat HIV. The drugs do not kill the virus or cure HIV. However, when taken in combination they can prevent the growth of the virus. When the virus is slowed down,… Read More

OVERVIEW HIV attacks cells within the body’s immune system. To spread, the virus needs to enter these cells and make copies of itself. The copies are then released from these cells and infect other cells. Treatment with non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) is one way… Read More

OVERVIEW HIV attacks cells within the body’s immune system. To spread, the virus needs to enter these cells and make copies of itself. The copies are then released from these cells and infect other cells. Treatment with nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) is one way… Read More

WHAT IS EFAVIRENZ? Efavirenz, also known as EFV (brand name Sustiva), is a drug used as part of antiretroviral therapy (ART). The FDA approved efavirenz in 1998 as an antiretroviral drug (ARV) for people with HIV infection. Generic versions have been approved under PEPFAR. Efavirenz… Read More

WHAT IS ATAZANAVIR? Atazanavir, also known as atazanavir sulfate or ATV (brand name Reyataz), is a drug used as part of antiretroviral therapy (ART). The FDA approved atazanavir in 2003 as an antiretroviral drug (ARV) for people with HIV infection. Generic versions have been approved… Read More

WHAT IS LAMIVUDINE? Lamivudine, also known as 3TC, (brand name Epivir) is a drug used as part of antiretroviral therapy (ART). The FDA approved lamivudine in 1995 as an antiretroviral drug (ARV) for people with HIV infection. Generic versions have been approved under PEPFAR. Lamivudine… Read More

WHAT IS RALTEGRAVIR? Raltegravir, also known as raltegravir potassium and RAL (brand name Isentress, Isentress HD), is a drug used as part of antiretroviral therapy (ART). The FDA approved raltegravir in 2007 as an antiretroviral drug (ARV) for people with HIV infection. Raltegravir is manufactured… Read More

WHAT IS MARAVIROC? Maraviroc, also known as MVC (brand name Selzentry in the U.S. and Celsentri elsewhere) is a drug used as part of antiretroviral therapy (ART). The FDA approved maraviroc in 2007 as an antiretroviral drug (ARV) for people with HIV infection. Maraviroc is… Read More

WHAT IS RITONAVIR? Ritonavir, also known as RTV (brand name Norvir), is a drug used as part of antiretroviral therapy (ART). The FDA approved ritonavir in 1996 as an antiretroviral drug (ARV) for people with HIV infection. Generic versions have been approved under PEPFAR. Ritonavir… Read More

WHAT IS ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY? Antiretroviral therapy (ART) for the treatment of HIV infection has improved steadily since the advent of potent combination therapy in 1996. ART has dramatically reduced HIV-associated complications and death and has transformed HIV infection into a manageable chronic condition, with life… Read More

WHAT IS COBICISTAT? Cobicistat, also known as COBI (brand name Tybost), is a drug used as part of antiretroviral therapy (ART). The FDA approved cobicistat in 2012 for people with HIV infection. Cobicistat is manufactured by Gilead Sciences. Cobicistat is a type of drug called… Read More

WHAT IS DOLUTEGRAVIR? Dolutegravir, also known as dolutegravir sodium and DTG (brand name Tivicay, Tivicay PD), is a drug used as part of antiretroviral therapy (ART). The FDA approved dolutegravir in 2013 as an antiretroviral drug (ARV) for people with HIV infection. Dolutegravir is manufactured… Read More

WHAT IS ETRAVIRINE? Etravirine, also known as ETR (brand name Intelence), is a drug used as part of antiretroviral therapy (ART). The FDA approved etravirine in 2008 as an antiretroviral drug (ARV) for people with HIV infection. Etravirine is manufactured by Janssen Therapeutics. Etravirine is… Read More

WHAT IS IBALIZUMAB-UIYK? Ibalizumab-uiyk, also known as Hu5A8, IBA, Ibalizumab, TMB-355, or TNX-355 (brand name Trogarzo) is a drug used as part of antiretroviral therapy (ART). The FDA approved ibalizumab-uiyk in 2018 as an antiretroviral drug (ARV) for people with HIV infection. Ibalizumab-uiyk is manufactured… Read More

WHAT IS DARUNAVIR? Darunavir, also known as darunavir ethanolate or DRV (brand name Prezista), is a drug used as part of antiretroviral therapy (ART). The FDA approved darunavir in 2006 as an antiretroviral drug (ARV) for people with HIV infection. Generic versions have been approved… Read More

NUCLEOSIDE REVERSE TRANSCRIPTASE INHIBITORS (NRTIs) NRTIs bind to and block reverse transcriptase (an HIV enzyme). HIV uses reverse transcriptase to convert its RNA into DNA (reverse transcription). Blocking reverse transcriptase and reverse transcription prevents HIV from replicating. YEAR APPROVED BRAND NAME GENERIC NAME ALSO KNOWN… Read More

WHAT IS ABACAVIR? Abacavir, also known as abacavir sulfate or ABC (brand name Ziagen), is a drug used as part of antiretroviral therapy (ART). The FDA approved abacavir in 1998 as an antiretroviral drug (ARV) for people with HIV infection. Generic versions have been approved… Read More

WHAT IS TENOFOVIR DISOPROXIL FUMARATE? Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, also known as tenofovir DF or TDF (brand name Viread), is a drug used as part of antiretroviral therapy (ART). The FDA approved tenofovir DF in 2001 as an antiretroviral drug (ARV) for people with HIV infection.… Read More

WHAT IS ELVITEGRAVIR? Elvitegravir (brand name Vitekta) is a drug used as part of antiretroviral therapy (ART). The FDA approved elvitegravir in 2012 as an antiretroviral drug (ARV) for people with HIV infection. Elvitegravir is manufactured by Gilead Sciences. Elvitegravir was sold from 2014 to… Read More

NUCLEOSIDE REVERSE TRANSCRIPTASE INHIBITORS (NRTIs) GENERIC NAME OTHER NAMES [BRAND NAME]* DOSAGE (ADULTS)** HOW TO TAKE SIDE EFFECTS CONTRAINDICATIONS abacavir abacavir sulfate, ABC [Ziagen] Prior to initiating therapy, test for the HLA-B*5701 allele. 600 mg by mouth daily, taken as either (1) 300 mg tablet… Read More

WHAT IS RILPIVIRINE? Rilpivirine, also known as rilpivirine hydrochloride or RPV (brand name Edurant), is a drug used as part of antiretroviral therapy (ART). The FDA approved rilpivirine in 2011 as an antiretroviral drug (ARV) for people with HIV infection. Rilpivirine is manufactured by Janssen… Read More

WHAT IS FOSTEMSAVIR? Fostemsavir, also known as fostemsavir tromethamine or FTR (brand name Rukobia), is a drug used as part of antiretroviral therapy (ART). The FDA approved fostemsavir in 2020 as an antiretroviral drug (ARV) for people with HIV infection. Fostemsavir is manufactured by ViiV… Read More

WHAT IS DORAVIRINE? Doravirine, also known as DOR (brand name Pifeltro), is a drug used as part of antiretroviral therapy (ART). The FDA approved doravirine in 2018 as an antiretroviral drug (ARV) for people with HIV infection. Doravirine is manufactured by Merck & Co. Doravirine… Read More

WHAT ARE DRUG INTERACTIONS? Prescription drug dosages need to be high enough to fight a specific disease but low enough to avoid causing serious side effects. Large changes in the amount of the drug in your bloodstream can be caused by interactions between prescription and… Read More

WHAT IS CABOTEGRAVIR? Cabotegravir, also known as cabotegravir sodium or CAB (brand name Vocabria), is a drug used as part of antiretroviral therapy (ART). The FDA approved cabotegravir in 2021 as an antiretroviral drug (ARV) for people with HIV infection. Cabotegravir is manufactured by ViiV… Read More

WHAT IS EMTRICITABINE? Emtricitabine, also known as FTC (brand name Emtriva), is a drug used as part of antiretroviral therapy (ART). The FDA approved emtricitabine in 2003 as an antiretroviral drug (ARV) for people with HIV infection. Generic versions have been approved under PEPFAR. Emtricitabine… Read More

WHAT IS ADHERENCE? For people with HIV, treatment adherence means: Starting HIV treatment, called antiretroviral therapy (ART) Keeping all medical appointments Taking HIV medicines, called antiretroviral medications (ARVs), every day and exactly as prescribed (also called medication adherence) Adherence to treatment is a key part… Read More

WHY DOES IT TAKE SO LONG TO APPROVE NEW HIV DRUGS? Developing a new drug can take 10 years or more. First, drug companies must find substances that are active against HIV. Most HIV drugs are identified by testing existing drugs for anti-HIV activity (screening).… Read More