Antiretroviral drugs: list and evidence. Highly active antiretroviral therapy

HIV is not a verdict today. Patients can safely live with this disease, work, start a family. All you need to do is regularly undergo antiretroviral chemotherapy. All these funds are divided into three classes: HIV protease inhibitors, nucleoside and non-nucleoside HIV reverse transcriptase inhibitors.

It is worth remembering that antiretroviral drugs can not be completely cured of AIDS. It is also not possible to protect yourself from infection. Drugs only prevent the reproduction of the virus, contribute to the improvement of the patient's condition. The most popular antiretroviral drugs will be described below.

Lamivudine

The agent belongs to the group of nucleoside inhibitors of HIV reverse transcriptase. The antiviral agent penetrates into the cells and is metabolized there, thereby causing oppression of viral replication. The method of treatment of HIV infection using the drug "lamivudine" shows high efficiency. The drug is also active against the hepatitis B virus. The drug is absorbed quickly enough from the digestive tract. Already an hour after taking the drug, bioavailability in blood plasma reaches 80%. The connection with plasma proteins is 30%. It is worth considering that the active ingredient easily penetrates the placental barrier.

The drug "lamivudine" is used to treat HIV in adults and children. Most often, the drug is used as part of complex therapy (other antiviral drugs are also used to treat HIV). Also, the medication can be prescribed for chronic viral hepatitis B. The drug is not contraindicated in pregnancy and lactation. The drug can be used to treat infants. Stop using drugs is only if there is a heightened sensitivity to the components.

Drug Interactions

Joint reception of funds "Lamivudine" and "Zimavudine" is possible. It should be noted that the bioavailability of drugs will be significantly reduced. It is not recommended to use drugs that have didanosine or sulfanilamine simultaneously. Neglect of this recommendation can lead to an exacerbation of pancreatitis. Significantly increases the concentration of the active substance - lamivudine - in the blood preparation "Trimethoprim".

Therapy is performed only according to the doctor's prescription. You can not buy Lamivudine in a pharmacy without a prescription. The price of the medicine is 3500 rubles. Dosage and treatment regimen is established by a specialist, based on the individual characteristics of the patient's body, as well as the form of the disease.

The drug should be used with caution in cases of impaired renal function. A medication can be prescribed by a specialist in the minimum dosage if the QC value is less than 50 ml / min. When developing the treatment regimen, the doctor should take into account that the active ingredient is excreted mainly by the kidneys. People with a dysfunction of the liver dosage adjustment is not required. When you have such anxious symptoms as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, "Lamivudine" is worth repealing. The specialist conducts the examination of the patient. Therapy can be resumed only when the diagnosis of "acute pancreatitis" is excluded.

"Lamivudine" is an effective tool in the treatment of HIV infection. The price of the drug is relatively low. It is worth remembering that no medication can protect from infection through the blood or through sexual contact. The medicine can not be used as a prophylaxis.

Didanosine

The antiviral drug has a high activity against HIV. Experts often use the "Didanosine". The instruction describes the method of use, indications and dosage. The drug is available in the form of tablets, chewable tablets, capsules. With their help, you can also prepare a suspension. The active ingredient is didanosine. Additionally, substances such as aspartame, magnesium hydroxide, titanium dioxide, sorbitol, calcium carbonate, magnesium stearate and mandarin flavor are used. The product is available in dosage of 100, 125, 200 and 400 mg.

Didanosine is a synthetic analogue of the nucleoside of dihydroxyadenosine, suppresses the HIV reaction in the cells of the body. Bioavailability of the active ingredient reaches 60% within an hour after ingestion. A more effective drug will be if it is used an hour before meals or 2 hours after eating. Use together with food reduces the bioavailability of the active ingredient by 50%. The drug is excreted by the liver and kidneys. Metabolism didanosine directly depends on the degree of impaired renal function.

The drug can be used only in combination with other antiviral drugs to treat HIV infection. The medication is allowed to be administered to women during the period of gestation and lactation. Do not contraindicated "Didanosine" and children. The drug is not given to babies until three years of age. To cancel a medicine it is necessary in the event that there is a hypersensibility to the basic component. People with a dysfunction of the liver drug should be used with caution.

How to take medicine?

Dosage is determined by the doctor depending on the severity of the disease, as well as the individual characteristics of the patient's body. Antiretroviral therapy can be conducted according to the recommendations specified in the instructions. The daily rate depends on the body weight. People whose weight does not exceed 60 kg, should take no more than 250 mg of funds per day. For patients with a body weight of more than 60 kg, the dosage may be up to 400 mg. Capsules are taken once a day. They can not be chewed. It should be washed down with plenty of water. It is recommended to carry out therapy in the morning, on an empty stomach.

Tablets can also be used for the preparation of a suspension. All you need to do is dilute the remedy with a small amount of boiled water. The whole daily norm can be divided into two methods. The prepared suspension can not be stored for more than an hour. In the evening, the drug should be taken at bedtime, 2 hours after eating. Children under 5 years of age are prescribed medication only in the form of a suspension.

Patients after 70 years are subject to dose adjustment. This is due to the fact that in the elderly, renal function is impaired. The standard daily rate can lead to the development of side effects, such as pancreatitis, peripheral neuropathy, lactic acidosis. From the gastrointestinal tract can develop such unpleasant phenomena as dry mouth, anorexia, nausea, vomiting. If you feel worse, the patient is advised to consult a specialist. Perhaps, the drug will be canceled. The doctor will appoint a qualitative substitute ("Thymidine" or analogues of "Thymidine", "Abacavir", "Lamivudine").

Videx

The active ingredient of this medicine is also didanosine. Antiretroviral drugs from this group are widely used in the therapy of HIV infection. A positive fact is that the medicine can also be used for infants. To small patients, the "Videx" agent is administered in the form of a powder for the preparation of a suspension. Dosage is calculated individually according to the degree of infection, as well as the individual characteristics of the patient's body. Do not use the drug only if there is an increased sensitivity to didanosine.

Antiretroviral therapy is performed immediately after the infection is detected. As a preventive measure, the drug is not used. The medicine has practically no contraindications. Tablets or Videx powder do not cause side effects if the dosage regimen is correctly selected. The medicine should be discontinued if there is a suspicion of the development of pancreatitis.

Zidovudine

The antiviral drug has a high activity against HIV. The active ingredient is zidovudine. Instructions for use also describe auxiliary substances. These include pregelatinized starch, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose. The film shell consists of titanium dioxide, polydextrose, glyceryl caprylcaprate. The drug is used as part of a combination therapy for an HIV-1 infection. During pregnancy, the drug can be used as a prophylaxis for perinatal transmission of the virus from mother to fetus.

The medicine has a number of contraindications. Tablets "Zidovudine" are not prescribed for children, as well as for adult patients, whose weight does not exceed 30 kg. In rare cases, an increased sensitivity to the active ingredient may develop. Drugs are taken orally, regardless of food intake. Those who purchased Zidovudine 300 should use two tablets a day. If the patient's weight exceeds 60 kg, you will need to take 20 mg of the drug twice a day.

Refers to the group of expensive drugs "Zidovudine". The price of one package of 60 tablets exceeds 10,000 rubles.

Abacavir

The active component of the tablets is abacavir sulfate. The drug is widely used in antiviral therapy of HIV. Additionally, the tablets contain the following components: microcrystalline cellulose, iron oxide yellow, polysorbate, titanium dioxide, magnesium stearate, opadrai yellow, triacetin. Medication can be used only as part of a combination therapy. Tablets "Abacavir" are not prescribed for hypersensitivity to the main component. The drug is contraindicated in small patients whose body weight does not exceed 14 kg. With care it is necessary to conduct therapy for patients with renal insufficiency.

The dosage of the drug is calculated individually according to the form of infection of the patient. For adults, the average daily rate is 600 mg per day (divided into three doses). The use of tablets in an increased dosage can lead to the development of an allergic reaction.

Also referred to as expensive "Abacavir". The price of one package of tablets may exceed 15,000 rubles.

Ziagen

The active ingredient, as in the previous case, is abacavir sulfate. Preparations are analogues and can replace each other. The agent "Ziagen" is effectively used in the complex therapy of HIV infection. The medicine can improve the patient's condition, return to a full life. Tablets have practically no contraindications. The drug is not prescribed only to patients whose weight does not exceed 14 kg.

The daily norm of the medicinal product is determined by the doctor. Consideration is given to the form of the disease, as well as the individual characteristics of the patient (weight, age). Children whose weight does not exceed 20 kg, appoint a half tablet twice a day. The daily allowance for an adult patient can reach three tablets per day.

Incorrect drug intake can lead to the development of side effects. It is advisable to seek medical help if symptoms develop such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. These phenomena can indicate pancreatitis. Also, allergic reactions are often observed in the form of rash and itching.

Tablets "Ziagen" may well replace the "Zidovudine". The price of preparations practically does not differ.

Olitid

The antiviral drug has activity against HIV infection. The active ingredient is abacavir sulfate. The drug is available in powder form for the preparation of a suspension, as well as tablets. "Olitid" can only be included in complex therapy. Independently the medicine is not used. The dosage of the medication is determined by the doctor. In the form of tablets, the drug can be used only for patients whose weight exceeds 14 kg. With caution, tablets are prescribed "Olitid" in old age. This is due to the risk of impaired renal function.

Antiretroviral drugs, including Olitide, are used strictly according to the purpose of the specialist. Drug medicines in a pharmacy without a prescription will not succeed.

RetroVir

The drug is widely used in the complex therapy of HIV. After ingestion, the drug is rapidly adsorbed from the digestive tract. The active ingredient easily penetrates the placental barrier. This is taken into account when developing a treatment regimen for pregnant women. A medication can be used as a prophylaxis for occupational HIV infection. This is especially important for laboratory workers who conduct research on contaminated materials.

The dosage of the drug is set individually by the attending physician. The maximum daily allowance for adults can not exceed 600 mg. Experts recommend to divide it into three parts. A more effective remedy will be if taken on an empty stomach. If any side effects occur, consult a doctor.