The aim of HIV treatment HIV is a virus that attacks the body?s defence against infection and illness ? the immune system. you can take drugs to reduce... Talk to your doctor Taking antiretroviral therapy is a long-term commitment. At present, once you start the drugs, you are likely to be on them for the rest of your life.... How anti-HIV drugs are dispensed You will get a prescription for your HIV treatment, when you attend your regular HIV clinic appointment, which you take to either the specialist HIV pharmacy (in... Generic medicines Pharmaceutical drugs are given several names: A research name based on its chemical make-up or manufacturer, e.g. DMP266. A generic name which is the chemical name of the... Types of antiretroviral drugs There are six main types (?classes?) of antiretroviral drugs: Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), and nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NtRTIs), which target an HIV protein called reverse transcriptase. These are often... Single-tablet regimens There are now fixed-dose pills that combine three anti-HIV drugs, from more than one class of drug. These allow many people to take their HIV treatment in... Nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs/NtRTIs) Most people now take these drugs in a fixed-dose pill that combines a number of drugs. These combination pills are listed first and there are also separate... Integrase inhibitors Names: Dolutegravir, Tivicay Dose: One yellow 50mg tablet once a day. Dolutegravir should be taken twice a day if taken with efavirenz, nevirapine or tipranavir, or for HIV... Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) Names: Efavirenz, Sustiva Approved dosage: Efavirenz is available as a generic drug, so its appearance will depend on which type your clinic buys. Efavirenz typically comes as 600mg... Protease inhibitors (PIs) Most protease inhibitors are prescribed with another drug (also a protease inhibitor) called ritonavir. Ritonavir is used to boost the effects of the other protease inhibitor in... CCR5 inhibitors Names: Maraviroc, Celsentri Approved dosage: The dose of maraviroc is dependent on the other anti-HIV drugs you take. Your HIV doctor or pharmacist will talk to you... Fusion inhibitors There is currently one drug in the fusion inhibitor class, called enfuvirtide (T-20, Fuzeon). This is now only prescribed in very rare and specific circumstances. Anyone on... Summary Combination HIV treatment prevents HIV from damaging your immune system, and so prevents ill health and prolongs...