HIV and AIDS: 

Medicines to 

Help You 

FDA Offce of Women’s Health 

www.fda.gov/womens 

Every year thousands of women 

are infected with HIV. 

There is hope. 

There are medicines that can treat 

HIV and help people live longer. 

Use this booklet to help you talk 

to your healthcare provider about 

the medicines you are taking. This 

booklet provides some basic facts 

about the anti-HIV medicines that 

have been approved by the FDA. 
HIV Medicines 

This booklet lists the names and some basic facts about the different kinds of medicines used to treat 

HIV. You and your healthcare provider will decide which medicines are right for you. 

Combination Medicines............................................................................................................................. 4 

Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTIs) ................................................................................ 6 

Nonnucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NNRTIs) ....................................................................... 8 

Protease Inhibitors ................................................................................................................................... 10 

Integrase Inhibitors .................................................................................................................................. 12 

Fusion Inhibitors....................................................................................................................................... 13 

CCR5 Antagonists.................................................................................................................................... 14 

CD4 Post-Attachment Inhibitor ............................................................................................................... 15 

CYP3A Inhibitors ...................................................................................................................................... 16 

HIV medicines and information in the booklet are current as of September 2019. 

For more up-to-date information on medicines for treatment of HIV and AIDS, 

check www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/daf/. 
Quick Facts 

There is a lot you need to know about HIV. Read these quick facts before you talk with your 

healthcare provider about your HIV treatment. 

HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. HIV stands for 

Human Immunodefciency Virus. 

HIV makes it hard for your body to fght off 

sickness. 

There are cells in your blood called “CD4 cells” 

or “T cells.” These cells help protect your body 

from disease. HIV kills these cells. 

There are medicines that you can take to reduce 

the amount of HIV and increase the CD4 cells in 

your body. 

These medicines do not cure HIV, but can help 

you live a longer, healthier life. These medicines 

also lower the risk of giving HIV to someone 

else. 

The medicines used to treat HIV are called 

“antiretroviral treatment,” or ART. There are 

different kinds of ART medicines. 

When you are on ART for HIV, you need to take 

medicine every day. You may need to take 1 

or more pills every day. Some ART medicines 

come in a liquid you take by mouth or as an 

intravenous, or IV, infusion your healthcare 

provider can give to you. The combination of 

different HIV medicines that you take is called 

your regimen. 

It is important that you take your medicines 

every day. Do not skip doses or stop taking your 

medicines without frst talking to your healthcare 

provider. Over time, you can get sick if you do 

not take your medicines. 

You should not breastfeed if you are HIVpositive because HIV can be passed to your 

baby through breast milk. 

Some medicines may reduce how well some 

hormonal birth control works. Patients who could 

become pregnant should talk to their healthcare 

provider about birth control and what medicines 

are best for them. 

Before taking any new ART medicine, tell your 

healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan 

to become pregnant. 

If you are HIV-positive and pregnant, you can 

lower the chance of passing HIV to your unborn 

baby by taking ART. 

Some HIV medicines should not be taken 

at the time of conception through the frst 

trimester of pregnancy because they may 

harm your unborn baby. 

Some HIV medicines should not be taken 

at all during pregnancy. You may not have 

enough of certain HIV medicines in your body 

because of changes to your body that occur 

during pregnancy. 

Some people with HIV may have changes in 

body fat, such as fat build-up in the belly, neck, 

or breasts or fat loss in the arms, legs, buttocks, 

or face. Some people with HIV will never have 

these changes. The exact cause is not known. It 

may be caused by HIV infection or medicines to 

treat HIV. 

Tell your healthcare provider about all the 

medicines you take, including prescription and 

over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins, 

and herbal supplements. Do not start a new 

medicine or stop taking a medicine without 

telling your healthcare provider. 

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Important Questions to Ask Your Doctor 

Ask your doctor to tell you what you should know about your HIV medicines. 

What medicines am I taking to treat HIV? 

When should I take each medicine? 

Should I take my medicines with food? 

Which prescription medicines, herbs (like St. John’s Wort), over-the-counter medicines (like antacids), or 

vitamins can affect my HIV medicines? Can my HIV medicines affect any of the other medicines I take? 

How should I store my HIV medicines? What about when I am away from home or go out of town? 

What are the side effects of the medicines I am taking? 

What should I do if I start having bad side effects? 

Risks and Side Effects 

HIV medicines can sometimes cause side effects. Some side effects happen for a short time. Other side 

effects can cause long-term health problems. Tell your healthcare provider about any side effects you 

are having. Do not stop taking your medicine without frst talking to your healthcare provider. Your 

healthcare provider may tell you tips to help you cope with the side effects. Your healthcare provider 

may also tell you to take different medicines. 

This booklet does not give the specifc side effects and warnings for each HIV medicine. 

Talk to your healthcare provider about the side effects and warnings for the medicines you take. 

Check the FDA website to fnd more HIV medicine information: 

www.fda.gov/patients/get-illnesscondition-information/hiv-human-immunodefciency-virus 

2 
My Regimen 

It is important that you take your HIV medicines just as your healthcare provider tells you. Your 

medicines may not work if you skip a dose or do not stick to your schedule. Over time, you 

can get sick if you do not take your medicines as directed. Your HIV may become resistant to 

your medicines. This means your medicines could stop working and more HIV could build up 

in your body. 

Here are some tips to help you remember when to take your HIV medicines: 

Use a schedule or Set the alarm on your 

planner. watch or phone. 

Use a pillbox to help Ask a friend or family 

organize your pills. member to help you. 

TIME MEDICINE NAME DOSE 

(how many pills) 

NOTES 

6:30 xxxxxxxx (example) 1 pill take by mouth with food 

3 
Combination Medicines 

Combination medicines include two or more different HIV medicines in one pill. There are 

different types of combination HIV medicines. 

SINGLE TABLET REGIMEN 

You take only 1 pill each day. 

BRAND NAME OTHER NAMES 

Atripla efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 

Biktarvy bictegravir sodium, emtricitabine, and tenofovir alafenamide fumarate 

Complera emtricitabine, rilpivirine hydrochloride, and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 

Delstrigo doravirine, lamivudine, and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 

Dovato dolutegravir sodium and lamivudine 

Genvoya cobicistat, elvitegravir, emtricitabine, and tenofovir alafenamide fumarate 

Juluca dolutegravir sodium and rilpivirine hydrochloride 

Odefsey emtricitabine, rilpivirine hydrochloride, and tenofovir alafenamide fumarate 

Stribild cobicistat, elvitegravir, emtricitabine, and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 

Symf 

Symf Lo efavirenz, lamivudine, and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 

Symtuza cobicistat, darunavir ethanolate, emtricitabine, and 

tenofovir alafenamide fumarate 

Triumeq abacavir sulfate, dolutegravir sodium, and lamivudine 

4 
Combination Medicines 

You take these combination medicines along with other HIV medicines. 

BRAND NAME OTHER NAMES 

Cimduo lamivudine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 

Combivir lamivudine and zidovudine 

Descovy emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide fumarate 

Epzicom abacavir sulfate and lamivudine 

Evotaz atazanavir sulfate and cobicistat 

Kaletra lopinavir and ritonavir 

Prezcobix cobicistat and darunavir ethanolate 

Temixys lamivudine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 

Trizivir abacavir sulfate, lamivudine, and zidovudine 

Truvada* emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 

*Truvada can be used in combination with safer sex practices to reduce the risk of a certain 

type of HIV in at-risk individuals. This regimen is called pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP. Talk 

to your healthcare provider for more information on PrEP. 

This guide does not list all side effects or warnings for each medicine. Check the medicine 

label and talk to your healthcare provider about the side effects and warnings for the 

combination HIV medicines you are taking. 

Important Tip 

Before you take these medicines, tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to 

become pregnant. 

For more information about the risks and side effects for each medicine, check 

www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/daf/. 

5 
Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTIs) 

BRAND NAME OTHER NAMES

 Cimduo* lamivudine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate

 Combivir* lamivudine and zidovudine

 Descovy* emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide fumarate

 Emtriva emtricitabine (also called FTC)

 Epivir lamivudine (also called 3TC)

 Epzicom* abacavir sulfate and lamivudine

 Retrovir zidovudine (also called azidothymidine, ZDV; formerly called AZT)

 Temixys* lamivudine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate

 Trizivir* abacavir sulfate, lamivudine, and zidovudine

 Truvada* emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate

 Videx didanosine (also called DDI, dideoxyinosine)

 Videx EC enteric coated didanosine (also called DDI, dideoxyinosine)

 Viread tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (also called TDF)

 Zerit stavudine (also called d4T)

 Zerit XR 

(extended release) stavudine (also called d4T)

 Ziagen abacavir sulfate (also called ABC) 

* Cimduo, Combivir, Descovy, Epzicom, Temixys, Trizivir, and Truvada are combination 

medicines. 

For more information about the risks and side effects for each medicine, check 

www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/daf/. 

6 
Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTIs) 

This guide does not list all side effects or warnings for each medicine. Check the medicine 

label and ask your healthcare provider about the side effects and warnings for the HIV 

medicines you are taking. 

Important Tips 

Talk with your healthcare provider about being tested for HLA-B*5701 prior to taking 

abacavir or medicines containing abacavir. 

These medicines may cause lactic acidosis (too much acid in the blood). 

These medicines may cause serious liver, pancreas, or kidney problems. 

If you have kidney problems or liver problems, such as hepatitis, talk to your healthcare 

provider before taking these medicines. 

These medications are taken by mouth. Retrovir (other names: zidovudine, AZT, 

azidothymidine, ZDV) can also be given as an intravenous infusion. 

Warning Signs 

Call your doctor right away if you have any of these signs: 

Stomach pain with nausea and vomiting 

Feeling very weak or tired 

Problems breathing 

Weakness in arms and legs 

Tingling, numbness, or pain in feet or hands 

Jaundice (skin or eyes look yellow) 

Pain in the upper or lower stomach area 

7 
Nonnucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NNRTIs) 

BRAND NAME OTHER NAMES

 Edurant rilpivirine hydrochloride (also called RPV)

 Intelence etravirine (also called ETR)

 Rescriptor delavirdine mesylate (also called DLV)

 Pifeltro doravirine (also called DOR)

 Sustiva efavirenz (also called EFV)

 Viramune nevirapine (also called NVP)

 Viramune XR 

(extended release) nevirapine (also called NVP) 

For more information about the risks and side effects for each medicine, check 

www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/daf/. 

8 
Nonnucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NNRTIs) 

This guide does not list all side effects or warnings for each medicine. Check the medicine 

label and ask your healthcare provider about the side effects and warnings for the HIV 

medicines you are taking. 

Important Tips 

If you have CD4 counts higher than 250 cells per cubic millimeter of blood, talk to your 

healthcare provider about the risks of taking Viramune (nevirapine). 

These medicines may cause serious liver problems or severe skin rashes. 

If you have kidney problems or liver problems, such as hepatitis, talk to your healthcare 

provider before taking these medicines. 

These medicines may affect your birth control pills or patch. You may need to use another 

method of birth control. Talk to your healthcare provider about what medicine is best for you. 

These medications are taken by mouth. 

Warning Signs 

Call your doctor right away if you have any of these signs: 

Flu-like symptoms 

Feeling tired 

Do not feel like eating 

Dark urine (looks like tea) 

Pale stools 

Jaundice (skin or eyes look yellow) 

Pain, aches, or sensitivity to touch on right side below your ribs 

Also call your healthcare provider right away if you have a severe rash along with blisters, 

swelling, pink eye, fever, muscle/joint pain, or mouth sores. 

9 
Protease Inhibitors 

BRAND NAME OTHER NAMES

 Aptivus tipranavir (also called TPV)

 Crixivan indinavir sulfate (also called IDV, MK-639)

 Evotaz* atazanavir sulfate and cobicistat

 Invirase saquinavir mesylate (also called SQV)

 Kaletra* lopinavir and ritonavir (also called LPV, RTV)

 Lexiva fosamprenavir calcium (also called FOS-APV, FPV)

 Norvir ritonavir (also called RTV)

 Prezcobix* cobicstat and darunavir ethanolate (also called DRV)

 Prezista darunavir ethanolate (also called DRV)

 Reyataz atazanavir sulfate (also called ATV)

 Viracept nelfnavir mesylate (also called NFV) 

* Evotaz, Kaletra, and Prezcobix are combination medicines. 

For more information about the risks and side effects for each medicine, check 

www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/daf/. 

10 
Protease Inhibitors 

This guide does not list all side effects or warnings for each medicine. Check the medicine 

label and ask your healthcare provider about the side effects and warnings for the HIV 

medicines you are taking. 

Important Tips 

Before you take these medicines, tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to 

become pregnant. 

These medicines may affect your birth control pills or patch. You may need to use another 

method of birth control. Talk to your healthcare provider about what medicine is best for 

you. 

Tell your healthcare provider about all medicines that you are taking. Protease Inhibitors may 

cause serious health problems or death if mixed with other medicines. 

These medicines may cause serious liver problems. 

These medicines may cause increased bleeding in people with hemophilia. 

These medicines may cause diabetes or make it worse. 

Certain protease inhibitors may cause an increase in cholesterol (triglycerides). 

These medications are taken by mouth. 

Warning Signs 

Call your doctor right away if you have any of these signs: 

Serious skin rash 

Feeling very weak or tired 

Unusual muscle pain 

Trouble breathing 

Stomach pain with nausea and vomiting 

11 
Integrase Inhibitors 

BRAND NAME OTHER NAMES

 Isentress

 Isentress HD raltegravir potassium (also called RAL)

 Tivicay dolutegravir sodium (also called DTG) 

For more information about the risks and side effects for each medicine, check 

www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/daf/. 

Other Integrase Inhibitors 

Elivitegravir and bictegravir — These medicines are available only as a part of a single tablet 

regimen combination medicine. 

This guide does not list all side effects or warnings for each medicine. Check the medicine 

label and ask your healthcare provider about the side effects and warnings for the HIV 

medicines you are taking. 

Important Tips 

Before you take these medicines, tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to 

become pregnant. 

Tell your healthcare provider about all medicines that you are taking. Integrase Inhibitors 

may cause serious health problems or death if mixed with other medicines. 

These medications are taken by mouth. 

12 
 

Fusion Inhibitors 

BRAND NAME OTHER NAMES

 Fuzeon enfuvirtide (also called T-20) 

For more information about the risks and side effects for each medicine, check 

www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/daf/. 

This guide does not list all side effects or warnings for each medicine. Check the medicine 

label and ask your healthcare provider about the side effects and warnings for the HIV 

medicines you are taking. 

Important Tips 

Taking Fuzeon (enfuvirtide) with other HIV medicines may increase your risk of pneumonia. 

Tell your healthcare provider if you have a cough, fever, or trouble breathing. 

This medication is a shot given under the skin. 

Warning Signs 

Fuzeon may cause serious allergic reactions. 

Call your doctor right away if you have any of these signs: 

Trouble breathing 

Fever with vomiting and a skin rash 

Blood in urine 

Swelling of the feet 

13 
 

CCR5 Antagonists 

BRAND NAME OTHER NAMES

 Selzentry maraviroc (also called MVC) 

For more information about the risks and side effects for each medicine, check 

www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/daf/. 

This guide does not list all side effects or warnings for each medicine. Check the medicine 

label and ask your healthcare provider about the side effects and warnings for the HIV 

medicines you are taking. 

Important Tips 

If you have liver problems, including Hepatitis B or C, you should talk to your healthcare 

provider before taking Selzentry (maraviroc). 

If you have kidney problems or heart problems, talk to your healthcare provider before 

taking Selzentry (maraviroc). 

Tell your healthcare provider if you are taking high blood pressure medicines or if you have 

low blood pressure. 

Do not drive a car or use heavy machinery if you feel dizzy while taking Selzentry (maraviroc). 

This medication is taken by mouth. 

Warning Signs 

Selzentry may cause serious liver problems. 

Call your doctor right away if you have 

any of these signs: 

Itchy rash on your body 

Skin or eyes look yellow 

Dark urine (looks like tea) 

Vomiting and stomach pain 

You should also see your doctor right 

away if you have any of these signs: 

Nausea 

Flu-like symptoms 

Fatigue 

14 
CD4 Post-Attachment Inhibitor 

BRAND NAME OTHER NAMES

 Trogarzo ibalizumab-UIYK 

For more information about the risks and side effects for each medicine, check 

www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/daf/ 

This guide does not list all side effects or warnings for each medicine. Check the medicine 

label and ask your healthcare provider about the side effects and warnings for the HIV 

medicines you are taking. 

Important Tips 

This medicine is used to treat HIV only in adults who: 

have received several anti-HIV regimens in the past, and 

have HIV-1 virus that is resistant to many antiretroviral medicines (ARTs), and 

who are failing their current ART. 

This medication is given by your healthcare provider as an intravenous (IV) infusion. 

15 
 

CYP3A Inhibitors 

BRAND NAME OTHER NAMES

 Tybost cobicistat

 Norvir ritonavir (also called RTV) 

For more information about the risks and side effects for each medicine, check 

www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/daf/. 

This guide does not list all side effects or warnings for each medicine. Check the medicine 

label and ask your healthcare provider about the side effects and warnings for the HIV 

medicines you are taking. 

Important Tips 

Before taking these medicines, tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan 

to become pregnant. CYP3A inhibitors may interact with many different medicines. 

Some interactions can be serious. Tell your healthcare provider about all medicines you 

take, including prescriptions, over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins, and herbal 

supplements, like St. John’s Wort. 

These medicines may reduce how well some (hormonal) birth control works. Talk to your 

healthcare provider about what medicine is best for you. 

These medications are taken by mouth. 

16 
Sign Up for a Pregnancy Registry 

Pregnancy Exposure Registries are research 

studies that collect information from women who 

take prescription medicines or vaccines during 

pregnancy. 

Pregnancy registries can help women and their 

healthcare providers learn more about how HIV 

medicines affect women during pregnancy. 

The FDA does not run pregnancy studies, but 

it keeps a list of all registries. Learn more about 

the registry for HIV medicines at: 

www.fda.gov/pregnancyregistries 
To learn more about HIV and AIDS, visit www.HIV.gov 

To get other women’s health materials, go to: www.fda.gov/womens 

This booklet was developed by the FDA Offce of Women’s Health. 

This booklet should not be used in place of talking to your 

healthcare provider or reading the label for your medicine. 

The drug and risk information may change. Check the FDA 

website for the most up-to-date information and latest facts 

for each product listed in this booklet. 

SEPTEMBER 2019