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 for use in the US and/or Europe. Those in square brackets are not yet approved but may be available through an expanded access programme. This list does not contain new drugs that are currently under development and still in clinical trials. Further information should be available from your doctor.
Multi-class combinations:
| Combination |
Brand name |
Notes |
| efavirenz + TDF + FTC |
Atripla |
Take on an empty stomach
|
Nucleoside/Nucleotide Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTIs):
| Abbreviation |
Generic name |
Brand name |
Notes |
| 3TC |
lamivudine |
Epivir |
Take with or without food |
| ABC |
abacavir |
Ziagen |
Take with or without food |
| AZT or ZDV |
zidovudine |
Retrovir |
Take with or after food |
| d4T1 |
stavudine |
Zerit |
Take with or without food |
| ddC2 |
zalcitabine |
Hivid |
Take with or after food |
| ddI |
didanosine |
Videx (tablet) |
Take on an empty stomach 30 minutes before food; avoid alcohol
|
| Videx EC (capsule) |
Take on an empty stomach 1 hour before food; avoid alcohol
|
| FTC |
emtricitabine |
Emtriva |
Take with or without food |
| TDF |
tenofovir |
Viread |
Take with or without food |
Combined NRTIs:
| Combination |
Brand name |
Notes |
| ABC + 3TC |
Epzicom (US) |
Take with or without food |
| Kivexa (Europe) |
| ABC + AZT + 3TC3 |
Trivizir |
Take with or without food |
| AZT + 3TC |
Combivir |
Take with or without food |
| TDF + FTC |
Truvada |
Take with or without food |
Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NNRTIs):
| Generic name |
Brand name |
Notes |
| delavirdine |
Rescriptor |
Licensed in US but not UK. Take with or without food. Wait an hour before taking ddI or antacids. |
| efavirenz |
Sustiva (US) |
Take on an empty stomach
|
| Stocrin (Europe) |
| etravirine4 |
Intelence |
Licensed in US but not UK. Take with food.
|
| nevirapine |
Viramune |
Take with or without food |
Protease Inhibitors (PIs):
| Generic name |
Brand name |
Notes |
| amprenavir / fosamprenavir |
Agenerase / Lexiva (US) |
Take with or without food |
| Agenerase / Telzir (Europe) |
| atazanavir5 |
Reyataz |
Take with food |
| darunavir6 |
Prezista |
Take with food |
| indinavir |
Crixivan |
Take on an empty stomach if not taken with ritonavir
|
| lopinavir + ritonavir |
Kaletra |
Some formulations should be taken with food. Some formulations need refrigeration to last more than 6 weeks. |
| Aluvia (developing world) |
| nelfinavir |
Viracept |
Take with food |
| ritonavir |
Norvir |
Take with food or liquid food supplement |
| saquinavir |
Fortovase (soft gel capsule) |
Take within two hours of food. Needs refrigeration to last more than 3 months. |
| Invirase (hard gel capsule) |
Take within two hours of food |
| tipranavir7 |
Aptivus |
Take with food |
Fusion or Entry Inhibitors:
| Generic name |
Brand Name |
Notes |
| T-20 or enfuvirtide8 |
Fuzeon |
Must be prepared from a powder and injected into thigh, arm or abdomen |
| maraviroc9 |
Celsentri (Europe) |
Take with or without food.
|
| Selzentry (US) |
Integrase Inhibitors:
| Generic name |
Brand Name |
Notes |
| raltegravir10 |
Isentress
|
Take with or without food. |
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Etravirine is approved in the US for treatment-experienced patients only.
- 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.
- Darunavir is not licensed as a starting regimen in the UK. The US Department of Health and Human Services do not recommend darunavir for initial treatment.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
SIDA & VIH
