At present there is no cure or vaccine for HIV/AIDS though a lot of research is pouring into it. The only way to avoid the spread of HIV/ AIDS is through prevention and if contacted through antiretroviral treatment. The treatment is started after an exposure which has the potentiality to cause HIV/AIDS infection. PEP (post exposure prophylaxis) requires an immediate and very strict 28 days schedule of anti viral dosage. This has many side effects but is the only mean or course of treatment.

Once the diagnosis of HIV/and AIDS is made, the most common and only effective treatment is the HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy). It consists of combination of drugs of different classes of antiretroviral agents. The most common regime includes NARTIs (nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitors) and an NNRTI (non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor) or some protease inhibitor.

HAART helps in improving the overall quality of patients’ life and reduction in the complication. HAART can’t cure the disease nor can stop the return of HIV once the treatment is stopped. Moreover, it has been seen that the body become resistant to the drug if it is stopped. Many patients have shown marked improvement through HAART.

The anti HIV medications fall into four classes according to the FDA. These include:

NNRTIs- These are used to stop the action of reverse transcriptase, the protein that needs to be reproduced for the thriving of HIV. The major NNRTIs are efavirenz and nevirappine.

NRTIs- These are version of the building blocks that HIV require to make its copies but the fact is that the version is faulty. When the virus uses this block instead of the normal block, the reproduction of the virus is stopped and it can’t reproduce. Some of the inhibitors are zidovudine, stavudin and tenofovir DF.

Protease inhibitors- These inhibitors disable the protease, which is another protein that is required by the HIV to reproduce. Lopinavir and ritonavir are drugs that act as Protease Inhibitors.

Fusion inhibitor- These are some newer drugs that prohibit the entry of HIV into the cells. One of the major fusion inhibitors includes enfuvirtide.

Mostly it has been found that taking one or two drugs only is not effective. At least a combination of three or more drugs offers some relief. The viral load doesn’t decrease with less than three drugs. For the pregnant women or someone who is considering becoming pregnant, some additional drugs are also to be taken to reduce the chances of infecting the fetus also.

In recent times a lot of research is going on to develop more effective dugs. Many combination drugs are also available as single pill also. The treatment of HIV and AIDS is in a highly dynamic stage and daily some new drug is introduced in the market. But the crux is that the drugs can reduce the symptoms but can’t cure the disease.

Tags: , ,