Protease Inhibitors (PI)

HIV/AIDS
AIDS Medications
Although there is no cure for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), medications have been highly effective in fighting HIV and its complications. Drug treatments help reduce the HIV virus in your body, keep your immune system as healthy as possible and decrease the complications you may develop.
Here are some of the drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating HIV and AIDS.
Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTI)
These drugs interrupt the virus from duplicating, which may slow the spread of HIV in the body. They include:
Abacavir (Ziagen, ABC)
Didanosine (Videx, dideoxyinosine, ddI)
Emtricitabine (Emtriva, FTC)
Lamivudine (Epivir, 3TC)
Stavudine (Zerit, d4T)
Tenofovir (Viread, TDF)
Zalcitabine (Hivid, ddC)
Zidovudine (Retrovir, ZDV or AZT)
Combinations of NRTIs make it possible to take lower doses and maintain effectivenss. These drugs include Combivir (Zidovudine and Lamivudine), Trizivir (Zidovudine, Lamivudine and Abacavir), Epzicom (Abacavir and Lamivudine) and Truvada (Tenofovir and Lamivudine). We expect more combination drugs to be available in the future.
Side Effects of NRTIs
Side effects from taking nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) vary, depending on the individual. We recommend that you consult with your doctor regarding any side effects you experience. Common side effects include:
Abacavir (Ziagen, ABC) — Side effects may include fever, rash, fatigue, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, malaise or fatigue, loss of appetite and respiratory symptoms.
Dideoxyinosine (Videx, ddI)) — Side effects may include nausea, vomiting and bloating. More serious side effects include pancreatitis and peripheral neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy is a common neurological disorder resulting from damage to the peripheral nerves. Symptoms of peripheral neuropathy include a sharp burning pain sensation in the hands or legs.
Lamivudine (Epivir, 3TC)) — Side effects may include cough, diarrhea, dizziness, headache, loss of appetite, mild stomach cramps or pain and trouble sleeping. More serious side effects include burning, tingling, or pain in the hands, arms, feet, or legs; chills; ear, nose, or throat problems; fever; muscle aches; nausea; pale skin; severe stomach pain; skin rash; unusual tiredness or weakness; vomiting; and yellow eyes or skin.
Stavudine (Zerit, d4T)) — Side effects may include peripheral neuropathy. Symptoms of peripheral neuropathy include a sharp burning pain sensation in the hands and/or legs. In rare cases, Stavudine also may cause pancreatitis.
Tenofovir (Viread, TDF)) — Side effects may include weakness and lack of energy, headache, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and intestinal gas. More serious side effects include liver or kidney failure and pancreas disease.
Zalcitabine (Hivid, ddC) — Side effects may include oral ulcers and peripheral neuropathy. Symptoms of peripheral neuropathy include a sharp burning pain sensation in the hands and/or legs.
Zidovudine (Retrovir, ZDV or AZT)) — Side effects may include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, headache, insomnia, weakness and fatigue, bone marrow suppression, anemia and neutropenia. Neutropenia refers to an abnormally low number of neutrophils in the blood. Neutrophils, a type of white blood cell, help fight bacterial infections. Neutropenia isn't a disease but a sign of an underlying problem. In mild cases, it may cause no symptoms. Severe neutropenia increases the risk of infection of the lungs, kidneys, blood and skin.
Protease Inhibitors (PI)
These FDA-approved drugs interrupt virus replication at a later step in the virus life cycle. Protease inhibitors include:
Amprenavir (Agenerase, APV)
Atazanavir (Reyataz, ATV)
Fosamprenavir (Lexiva, FOS)
Indinavir (Crixivan, IDV)
Lopinavir (Kaletra, LPV/r)
Ritonavir (Norvir, RIT)
Saquinavir (Fortovase,Invirase, SQV)