Antiretroviral drugs table

Approved antiretroviral drugs

There are currently more than 20 approved antiretroviral drugs in the US and Europe (including combined formulations) and many more in the expanded access programmes and trials.

Most antiretroviral drugs have at least three names. Sometimes a drug is referred to by its research or chemical name, such as AZT. The second name is the generic name for all drugs with the same chemical structure; for example AZT is also known as zidovudine. The third name is the brand name given by the pharmaceutical company; one of the brand names for zidovudine is Retrovir. Lastly, an abbreviation of the common name might sometimes also be used, such as ZDV, which is the fourth name given to zidovudine.

The drugs listed here are those approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This list does not contain new drugs that are currently under development and still in clinical trials, which are covered in our new AIDS drugs page. Further information should be available from your doctor.

Multi-class combinations:

Combination Brand name Food restrictions and notes Date of FDA approval
EFV + TDF + FTC Atripla Take on an empty stomach 12-Jul-06
d4T + 3TC + NVP - Take with or without food Tentative only*
AZT + 3TC+ NVP - Take with or without food Tentative only*

Nucleoside/Nucleotide Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTIs):

Abbreviation Generic name Brand name Food restrictions and notes Date of FDA approval
3TC lamivudine Epivir Take with or without food 17-Nov-95
ABC abacavir Ziagen Take with or without food 17-Dec-98
AZT or ZDV zidovudine1 Retrovir Take with or after food 19-Mar-87
d4T stavudine2 Zerit Take with or without food 24-Jun-94
ddC zalcitabine3 Hivid Take with or after food 19-Jun-92
ddI didanosine4 Videx (tablet) Take on an empty stomach 30 minutes before food; avoid alcohol 09-Oct-91
Videx EC (capsule) Take on an empty stomach 1 hour before food; avoid alcohol 31-Oct-00
FTC emtricitabine Emtriva Take with or without food 02-Jul-03
TDF tenofovir Viread Take with or without food 26-Oct-01

Combined NRTIs:

Combination Brand name Food restrictions and notes Date of FDA approval
ABC + 3TC Epzicom (US) Take with or without food 02-Aug-04
Kivexa (Europe)
ABC + AZT + 3TC Trizivir5 Take with or without food 15-Nov-00
AZT + 3TC Combivir Take with or without food 26-Sep-97
TDF + FTC Truvada Take with or without food 02-Aug-04
d4T + 3TC - Take with or without food Tentative only*

Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NNRTIs):

Abbreviation Generic name Brand name Food restrictions and notes Date of FDA approval
DLV delavirdine6 Rescriptor Take with or without food; wait an hour before taking ddI or antacids 04-Apr-97
EFV efavirenz Sustiva (US) Take on an empty stomach 17-Sep-98
Stocrin (Europe)
ETR etravirine7 Intelence Take with food 18-Jan-08
NVP nevirapine Viramune Take with or without food 21-Jun-96

Protease Inhibitors (PIs):

Abbreviation Generic name Brand name Food restrictions and notes Date of FDA approval
APV amprenavir Agenerase Take with or without food; avoid high-fat meals 15-Apr-99
FOS-APV fosamprenavir Lexiva (US) Take with or without food 20-Oct-03
Telzir (Europe)
ATV atazanavir8 Reyataz Take with food 20-Jun-03
DRV darunavir Prezista Take with food 23-Jun-06
IDV indinavir Crixivan Take on an empty stomach if not taken with ritonavir 13-Mar-96
LPV/RTV lopinavir + ritonavir Kaletra Some formulations should be taken with food; some formulations need refrigeration to last more than 6 weeks 15-Sep-00
Aluvia (developing world)
NFV nelfinavir Viracept Take with food 14-Mar-97
RTV ritonavir Norvir Take with food or liquid food supplement 01-Mar-96
SQV saquinavir Fortovase (soft gel capsule)9 Take within two hours of food; needs refrigeration to last more than 3 months 07-Nov-97
Invirase (hard gel capsule) Take within two hours of food 06-Dec-95
TPV tipranavir10 Aptivus Take with food 22-Jun-05

Fusion or Entry Inhibitors:

Abbreviation Generic name Brand Name Food restrictions and notes Date of FDA approval
T-20 enfuvirtide11 Fuzeon Must be prepared from a powder and injected into thigh, arm or abdomen 13-Mar-03
MVC maraviroc12 Celsentri (Europe) Take with or without food 18-Sep-07
Selzentry (US)

Integrase Inhibitors:

Abbreviation Generic name Brand Name Food restrictions and notes Date of FDA approval
RAL raltegravir13 Isentress Take with or without food 12-Oct-07
  1. The patent for AZT has expired and generic versions are available in the US.
  2. Stavudine is no longer recommended for initial therapy in the UK. The US Department of Health and Human Services also no longer recommend stavudine as a ‘preferred’ or ‘alternative’ component in initial treatment.
  3. Zalcitabine is no longer recommended as a preferred component of treatment in the UK. In the US, Roche Pharmaceuticals has discontinued the sale and distribution of zalcitabine tablets.
  4. The patent for ddI has expired and generic versions are available in the US.
  5. The British HIV Association (BHIVA) recommends that Trizivir "should only be considered as a starting regimen in very occasional circumstances, for example informed patient choice based on likely poor adherence if alternative options are used, or concomitant medication needed such as for TB". Trizivir is listed as a ‘possible’ treatment option in the US, but it is not the ‘preferred’ treatment option.
  6. Delavirdine is licensed in US but not UK.
  7. Etravirine is approved in the US and the UK for treatment-experienced patients only.
  8. Atazanavir is not licensed as a starting regimen in the UK. In the US, ritonavir-boosted atazanavir has been approved as a ‘preferred’ initial treatment, while unboosted atazanavir is an ‘alternative’ for initial treatment.
  9. Roche Pharmaceuticals have discontinued the sale and distribution of Fortovase brand saquinavir capsules in the US.
  10. Tipranavir is not licensed as a starting regimen in the UK. The US Department of Health and Human Services do not recommend tipranavir for initial treatment.
  11. Enfuvirtide is not licensed as a starting regimen in the UK. The US Department of Health and Human Services do not recommend enfuvirtide for initial treatment.
  12. Maraviroc is not licensed as a starting regimen in the UK. The US Department of Health and Human Services do not recommend maraviroc for initial treatment.
  13. Raltegravir is not licensed as a starting regimen in the UK. The US Department of Health and Human Services do not recommend raltegravir for initial treatment.

* Because of patent laws, generic forms given tentative approval are available in certain developing countries only.

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Disclaimer

www.avert.org is an information resource to be used for educational purposes only. The information is not intended to serve as a substitute for professional medical advice and we recommend that all decisions about your treatment or products you wish to use should be discussed thoroughly and frankly with your doctor.

Last updated June 30, 2009