Many scientists now dream of finding an effective cure for HIV. The goal of treatment is to inhibit the development of the virus. For this, several are combined into one drug. To date, the most effective treatment is antiretroviral therapy. At the moment, only antiviral drugs are the best cure for HIV. But joking with these drugs is not worth it. These drugs require strict patient discipline.
Why is the cure for HIV called antiretroviral? Yes, because HIV is a retrovirus. The drugs mentioned above produce an effect on the virus. They oppress it and prevent it from multiplying.
Antiretroviral therapy is highly active, but does not cure completely of HIV infection. But it suppresses the virus very much. So much so that by conducting sensitive tests on a patient who is taking antiretroviral drugs, doctors cannot absolutely find the presence of the virus in the blood. Although he is there.
A cure for HIV is highly effective when combined therapy is used. Such therapy includes several drugs that are antiretroviral. This therapy gives the virus a very low chance of developing drug resistance.
Antiretroviral therapy is the best cure for HIV. And it is applied strictly as prescribed by the doctor. If the patient does not comply with the medication regimen, then soon the drugs will stop helping him. Side effects may also occur. Therefore, only the doctor can choose the right combination of drugs.
Many hope that scientists will find a drug that will completely cure HIV infection. And when they find a cure for HIV, this ailment will be completely destroyed. But so far this has not happened.
The whole world is developing new drugs that are used to treat HIV. The most promising are substances that do not allow the virus to enter the cell. Substances that block the vital activity of the virus. And substances that do not allow the virus to embed their genetic information in the cell nucleus. Immunomodulators are also being developed. These are drugs that strengthen the immune system and give it the strength to fight viruses.
The same drugs that you buy in pharmacies have several names. Also, these drugs can be sold under different brands. For example, ascorbic acid and vitamin C are one and the same. Namely, there are not very many antiviral drugs, about 20.
But do not forget that antiretroviral drugs have side effects. They are very toxic. So toxic that they can even lead to the death of the patient.
For example, a drug like Zidovudine inhibits bone marrow, leading to anemia, thrombocytopenia, fatty liver, headache, allergies, and weakness. The drug "Didanosine" leads to acute pancreatitis, neuropathies, diarrhea, nausea. "Zalcitabine" - to hepatomegaly, stomatitis, sweating, pharyngitis, leukopenia. "Stavudine" - to peripheral neuritis, asthenia, dyspepsia, insomnia, anorexia. "Lamivudine" - to neuropathies, vomiting, anemia, paresthesia. "Nevirapine" - to allergies, hepatitis, drowsiness, fever. "Abacavir" - to severe anorexia, stomatitis, conjunctivitis. "Phosphazide" - to dyspepsia, vomiting, headache.
More often side effects are more pronounced at the initial stage of treatment with drugs. Long-term use of treatment leads to the emergence of HIV strains that are resistant to antiretroviral drugs.
What needs to be done for antiretroviral therapy to be successful? Most importantly, a timely prescribed by a doctor and effective treatment regimen. This will help HIV-infected patients extend their life by several years.