Antiretroviral therapies

The use of a combination of more potent antiretroviral agents has resulted in suppression of HIV replication to undetectable levels in many patients. Three classes of antiretroviral drugs are currently available: nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, and protease inhibitors. A new class of agents, nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors, is expected to be available soon. Clinical studies and indications providing the rationale for use of these agents, contraindications, drug interactions, and adverse reactions are discussed.