HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system, specifically the T-cells. HIV gradually destroys those cells until the body is unable to fend off infections and disease. If left untreated, HIV can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), the last stage of HIV infection where opportunistic infections or cancers can exploit a weak immune system and have fatal consequences.

The human body can never get rid of HIV completely, even with treatment. Therefore, once you contract HIV, you have it for life. However, with proper medical care, HIV can be controlled. Over one million people currently live with HIV in the United States; one in seven are not aware of their status.

AIDS is the most critical phase of HIV infection. The immune systems of individuals with AIDS become depleted to the point where they contract an increasing number of extreme illnesses.

In the absence of treatment, HIV advances in stages, overwhelming the immune system and deteriorating over time. The three stages of HIV infection are:

• Acute HIV infection
• Clinical latency
• AIDS

However, by using HIV medicines consistently, patients can prevent HIV from progressing to AIDS and live longer healthier, and more productive lives.

Human immunodeficiency virus causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome which is a progressive failure of the immune system that allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive.

 

Medications for HIV

NRTIs

• Edurant

Website http://www.edurant.com/

Patient Support 1-800-JANSSEN (1-800-526-7736)

• Emtriva

Website http://www.gilead.com/medicines#HIVAIDS

Patient Support 1-800-GILEAD-5 (1-800-445-3235)

• Epivir

Website http://www.viivhealthcare.com/our-medicines/epivir3tc.aspx

Patient Support 1-888-825-5249

• Videx EC

Website http://www.bms.com

Patient Support 800-332-2056

• Retrovir

http://www.drugs.com/cdi/retrovir.html

• Zerit

Website http://www.bms.com

Patient Support 800-332-2056.

• Viread

Website http://www.gilead.com/medicines#HIVAIDS

Patient Support 1-800-GILEAD-5 (1-800-445-3235

• Ziagen

Website http://www.viivhealthcare.com/our-medicines/ziagen.aspx

Patient Support1-888-825-5249

NNRTI

• Intelence

Website http://www.intelence.com/

Patient Support 1-800-JANSSEN (1-800-526-7736)

• Rescriptor

Website http://www.viivhealthcare.com/our-medicines/rescriptor.aspx

Patient Support 1-888-825-5249

• SusTiva

Website http://www.sustiva.com/

Patient Support 1 (800) 321-1335

• Viramune XR

Website http://www.viramune.com/Landingpage.html

Patient Support 1-800-542-6257

 

Combination Antiretroviral

• Atripla

Website http://www.atripla.com/index.aspx

Patient Support 1-888-547-4267

• Combivir

Website http://www.viivhealthcare.com/our-medicines/combivir.aspx

Patient Support 1-888-825-5249

• Complera

Website http://complera.com/

Patient Support Phone: 1-800-GILEAD-5 (1-800-445-3235)

• Epzicom

Website http://www.epzicom.com/index.html

Patient Support 1-888-825-5249

• Stribild

Website http://www.stribild.com/

Patient Support 1-800-GILEAD-5 (1-800-445-3235)

• Trizivir

http://www.drugs.com/trizivir.html

• Truvada

Website http://www.truvada.com/

Patient Support1-800-445-3235

 

Integrase Inhibitors

• Isentress

Website http://www.isentress.com/raltegravir/isentress/consumer/hiv_medication/index.jsp

Patient Support 1-800-622-4477

Protease Inhibitors

• Aptivus

Website http://www.boehringer-ingelheim.com/products/prescription_medicines/hiv_aids.html

Patient Support 1-800-542-6257

• Crixivan

Website http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/c/crixivan.html

Patient Support 1-800-444-2080

• Invirase

Website http://www.gene.com/patients/medicines/invirase

Patient Support 1-888)-835-2555

• Kaletra

Website http://www.kaletra.com/

Patient Support 1-866-KALETRA

• Lexiva

Website http://www.viivhealthcare.com/our-medicines/lexivatelzir.aspx

Patient Support 877-844-8872

• Norvir Tablet

Website http://www.norvir.com/

Patient Support 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088).

• Prezista

Website http://prezista.com/

Patient Support 1-800-JANSSEN (1-800-526-7736)

• Reyataz

Website http://www.reyataz.com/

Patient Support 1-800-321-1335

• Viracept

Website http://www.viivhealthcare.com/our-medicines/viracept.aspx

Patient Support 800-438-1985

 

Entry Inhibitors

• Fuzeon

Website http://www.fuzeon.com/Fuzeon/consumer-home_page.do

Patient Support 1-877-4 FUZEON (1-877-438-9366).

• Selzentry

Website http://www.selzentry.com/

Patient Support1-888-825-5249

Video-http://www.selzentry.com/hiv-medication.html

Other Medication

• Egrifta

Website http://www.egrifta.com/

Patient Support 1-877-714-AXIS (2947)

• Procrit

Website http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/Drugsafety/ucm088988.pdf

• Serostim

Website http://www.serostim.com/

Patient 1-800-283-8088

 

Other Resources

AIDS Healthcare Foundation

AIDS Healthcare Foundation is a global organization that is focused on providing medicine and advocacy to patients, family members, and caregivers. AIDS Healthcare Foundation provides information for HIV prevention and living with HIV, what to do when you are diagnosed, and resources for important HIV/AIDS programs, organizations, and institutions.

Aids Info (NIH)

A comprehensive set of info, tools resources and much more from the National Institutes of Health.

HIV/AIDS Tribe

HIV/AIDS Tribe is a free online community that connects people who are affected by HIV/AIDS to support each other. HIV/AIDS Tribe allows users to create their own profile, instant message with others, form groups, share photos, create polls, browse members and more. They also provide users with recent HIV blogs and health news.

International Aids Society

The International AIDS Society is the world’s leading independent association of HIV professionals