Protease inhibitors, a new class of drugs that interfere with the last stage of HIV replication, are the most powerful anti-HIV drugs available to date. They work by interrupting the process by which the HIV overtakes a healthy cell and uses it to multiply within the body. In addition, the long term effectiveness of combination therapy with protease inhibitors is unknown. Finally, people who are HIV infected and on combination therapy can still transmit HIV, underscoring the continued need for prevention programs. Combination therapy is complex and often requires the patient to stick to a strict regiment of many pills taken throughout the day.
Some people experience difficult side effects.
Moreover, not everyone has access to combination therapy and many people, particularly minorities and women, aren't covered by health insurance, making it difficult for them to pay for combination therapy. Even for those with health insurance coverage, medications are expensive and therapies are just not effective for everyone. Some people do experience side effects that can range from very mild to very severe. However, even when side effects do occur, they are often temporary, or diminish over time. Side effects will often go away after a person stops taking a drug, but some side effects can be long-lasting or even permanent.