How to Treat AIDS? – How to treat HIV/AIDS? Treatment for HIV/AIDS is generally carried out using antiretroviral drugs (ARV). There are various choices of antiretroviral drugs, here are the explanations.
What is AIDS?
AIDS is a disease that occurs due to infection with the HIV virus. AIDS (Acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is the final stage of HIV disease. However, not everyone who suffers from HIV will develop AIDS. AIDS will weaken the sufferer’s immune system. As a result, various diseases will attack more easily, so that diseases that should not be serious in normal people can become deadly in AIDS sufferers.
How to Treat AIDS?
Until now, there is no medicine that can cure HIV/AIDS. The treatment carried out aims to prevent infection from developing so that sufferers can live a normal life. Treatment for HIV/AIDS is generally carried out by carrying out antiretroviral therapy. Antiretroviral therapy aims to fight viral infections and slow the spread of the virus. Antiretroviral drugs that are generally used to treat HIV/AIDS include the following.
1. Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTI)
At the start of infection, the HIV/AIDS virus will begin to enter the cells of the immune system. These cells include CD4 cells or T cells. After the virus enters the immune system, the virus begins to develop and multiply. After that, the virus will change the genetic material which normally goes from DNA to RNA to RNA to DNA. This process is called reverse transcription. During the reverse transcription process, the enzyme reverse transcriptase is needed. NRTI drugs work by blocking the reverse transcriptase enzyme from growing more and preventing it from getting worse. NRTI drugs that are commonly used include abacavir, emtricitabine, lamivudine, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, and zidovudine.
2. Non-nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NNRTI)
Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors are drugs that work in a similar way to NRTIs. This drug stops the HIV virus from replicating itself and growing more and more. Drugs included in non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors such as doravirine, efavirenz, etravirine, and rilpivirine
3. Cytochrome P4503A (CYP3A) Inhibitors
Cytochrome P4503A or CYP3A is an enzyme in the liver that helps several body functions. This enzyme helps the body break down or metabolize various types of drugs that enter the body. Taking this drug can increase the function of HIV drug levels and other drugs consumed. As a result, the drug’s performance will be maximized and can help optimize the health condition of HIV/AIDS patients. Some drugs that are often used include cobicistat and ritonavir.
4. Integrase Inhibitors
The HIV virus that enters the body requires the integrase enzyme to infect T cells. The virus will insert HIV DNA into human DNA and grow more and more. Integrase inhibitors are antiretroviral drugs whose job is to block this action so that the virus does not multiply. Integrase inhibitors are usually given when they are first diagnosed as HIV positive. Drugs that are included in the type of integrase inhibitors such as dolutegravir and raltegravir.
5. Protease Inhibitors (PI)
The HIV virus needs the protease enzyme to be able to replicate more. Protease inhibitors work by binding to the protease enzyme. The protease enzyme bound by protease inhibitors will prevent the HIV virus from replicating more. As a result, it can reduce the number of healthy cells infected by the HIV virus. Protease inhibitor drugs used to treat HIV/AIDS include atazanavir, darunavir, fosamprenavir, ritonavir, and tipranavir.
6. Entry Inhibitors
The HIV/AIDS virus must bind to cell proteins to enter healthy T cells. Entry inhibitor drugs are useful for preventing the HIV/AIDS virus from entering T cells. However, these drugs are rarely used in initial treatment. Doctors will start recommending this drug when other treatments do not make a difference. Entry inhibitor drugs used include enfuvirtide and maraviroc.
7. Fusion Inhibitors
Fusion inhibitors are another type of drug that is widely used in the treatment of HIV/AIDS. To be able to grow more and more, the HIV virus needs host T cells. This is where the function of this drug is, namely to inhibit the HIV virus from entering the host’s T cells thereby preventing the virus from replicating. Until now, there is still one fusion inhibitor drug, namely enfuvirtide.
8. Post-attachment Inhibitors
Post-attachment inhibitors are included in antiretroviral drugs to treat HIV/AIDS. This drug works by preventing the virus from growing more and more. Apart from that, this drug also prevents the HIV virus from entering certain cells which can affect the immune system. Generally, to get the most out of this drug, it must be combined with other antiretroviral drugs. The post-attachment inhibitors used are ibalizumab-uiyk (Trogarzo).
How to treat HIV/AIDS can be done by using antiretroviral drugs. Antiretroviral drugs work by controlling the HIV/AIDS virus so that it does not grow more and more. Apart from that, it also prevents the patient’s condition from getting worse. Be sure to get a prescription from your doctor before using this medication. That’s a review of how to treat HIV/AIDS. Hope it is useful.
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