While there’s no cure for HIV or AIDS, over 30 years of advances in medications and treatment options ensure that those who test positive are thoroughly supported with effective management and therapeutic tools. Robust treatments like antiretroviral therapy (or the use of HIV medications) have been shown to help those living with HIV or AIDS stay stronger and healthier, allowing them to enjoy normal, productive and pain-free lives.

Antiretroviral Medications

• Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTIs): NRTIs (tenofovir, emtricitabine, abacavir, etc.) interfere with the virus's ability to replicate by blocking access to the reverse transcriptase enzyme.

• Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NNRTIs): NNRTIs, such as efavirenz and nevirapine, bind and inhibit the reverse transcriptase enzyme itself. Unlike NRTIs, NNRTIs carry a risk of drug resistance, so they can’t be combined with other drugs in the same class.

• Protease Inhibitors (PIs): PIs, like atazanavir and darunavir, prevent the production of mature virus particles in the protease enzyme, reducing the virus’s ability to infect new cells.

• Integrase Inhibitors: Integrase inhibitors, such as raltegravir, elvitegravir and dolutegravir, interfere with the integration of viral DNA into the host cell genome, slowing down the virus’s spread by preventing it from permanently bonding with your cells.

• Entry Inhibitors: Entry inhibitors block HIV from entering human cells through the surface receptors. This class includes drugs like maraviroc, which binds to a receptor on the surface of immune cells, preventing HIV from attaching and entering.

Antiretroviral Injectables

A large percentage of HIV medications are administered in pill or tablet form. Most HIV-positive individuals will start their treatment with daily oral medication and continue taking them if their viral load remains manageable. Some are available in fixed-dose combinations, where multiple drugs are combined into a single pill to simplify the treatment regimen.

Recent advancements have introduced long-acting injectable formulations of some antiretroviral drugs. With this alternative treatment protocol, drugs like cabotegravir and rilpivirine are only administered once a month or once every other month through intramuscular injections, while Enfuvirtide is a subcutaneous injection that’s inserted just under the skin into the fatty tissue. Both have been shown to have the potential to change your body’s tissue uptake and restore lymph nodes impacted by HIV. One of the biggest draws of injectables is the flexibility it offers to those who struggle with daily medication adherence.

The Importance of HIV Medication Adherence

Adherence is critical to the management of HIV and the reduction of symptoms. Consistent usage of HIV medications can slow down the progression of the virus, preventing mutation and lowering your body’s viral load. If you stop your treatment, you could put your immune system in jeopardy. Without proper adherence, the virus can mutate, radically increasing your body’s viral load, weakening your body’s immune system and opening the door to opportunistic infections.

Erratic medication usage also increases the risk of the virus becoming resistant to medication, allowing it to replicate and worsen. This can reduce your treatment options and make your ability to manage your diagnosis difficult.

In contrast, strictly following your medication regimen can not only protect your body against the virus but can even improve your life in predictable and sometimes unforeseen ways. With proper adherence, you can lower your viral load to such a degree that your risk of sexually transmitting to others could possibly be nullified. The CDC has recently discovered that patients with a medically suppressed viral load didn’t give the virus to their partners.

Also known as “Undetectable = Untransmittable” (U=U), this concept means that with consistent medical adherence, those with HIV can be in relationships without transmitting the virus to their partner.

You can learn more about how to help yourself adhere to your treatment plan in our blog here.

Get HIV Medications From Experienced and Compassionate Pharmacists in Houston

At St. Hope Pharmacy, our experienced pharmacists will work hard to increase your chances of receiving a positive prognosis with thorough and targeted treatments. We have extensive experience and expertise in HIV medications and treatment protocols. Our team will teach you everything you need to know about your prescription so you never feel lost about what you’re taking.

As a full-service pharmacy, you don’t need to be a patient of St. Hope Healthcare to get your prescription from us. Our doors are open to anyone and everyone who’s starting their antiretroviral therapy program. To learn more about your new prescription, schedule a consultation with a St. Hope pharmacist today at one of our six locations in Bellaire, Conroe, Houston, Sugar Land and Dickinson.