There is a serious problem with the pharmacokinetics of these nucleoside analogues, e.g. typically short serum half lives of 1-4h. Nucleoside analogues are in fact pro-drugs , since they need to be phosphorylated before becoming effective. The cell DNA polymerase is less sensitive to it than the viral DNA polymerase. These drugs are specific for the HIV-1 protease and competitively inhibit the enzyme, preventing the maturation of virions capable of infecting other cells. Interferon and acyclovir can cause severe nausia and vomiting.
Pregnancy is an important contraindication because of possible teratogenic effects.
For many patients today, HIV infection is becoming a chronic, more manageable condition.