Protease Inhibitors (PIs)
Drug Adult Dosing Possible Side Effects Notes
Aptivus (tipranavir), by Boehringer Ingelheim Aptivus Two 250mg capsules plus two 100mg Norvir capsules, twice a day (a total of 8 pills a day).

Special warnings:* bleeding in the brain; hepatitis (extra care needed for HIV-positive people with hepatitis B or hepatitis C).

Rash, increased cholesterol, increased triglycerides, lipodystrophy, increased bleeding in patients with hemophilia.

 Aptivus and Norvir should be taken with food, preferably a full nutritious meal (e.g., breakfast and dinner). Aptivus/Norvir should not be taken with other protease inhibitors. If taken with ddI (Videx or Videx EC), Aptivus/Norvir should be taken at least two hours before or two hours after taking ddI.
Crixivan (indinavir), by Merck & Co. Crixivan Two 400mg capsules, every 8 hours (a total of 6 pills a day), or two 400mg Crixivan capsules with either one or two 100mg Norvir capsules twice a day (preferred dosing). Kidney stones, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, increased cholesterol, increased triglycerides, increased glucose (sugar), lipodystrophy, increased bilirubin (not harmful), increased bleeding in patients with hemophilia. Others: headache, weakness, blurred vision, dizziness, rash, metallic taste, low platelets, hair loss, anemia.

Without Norvir: Take on an empty stomach (no food two hours before or one hour after dosing), or with a light, low-fat snack.

With Norvir: Take with or without food.

Drink at least 48 ounces (six 8-oz. glasses) of water daily to prevent kidney stones.
Invirase (saquinavir), by Hoffmann-La Roche Invirase Invirase must be used in combination with Norvir. The approved dose is two 500mg Invirase tablets plus one 100mg Norvir capsule, twice a day (a total of 6 pills a day). Nausea, diarrhea, stomach discomfort, headache, increased cholesterol, increased triglycerides, lipodystrophy, increased glucose (sugar), increased liver enzyme levels, and increased bleeding in patients with hemophilia Invirase and Norvir should be taken with food, preferably a full nutritious meal (e.g., breakfast and dinner), or within 2 hours after a meal.

Kaletra* (lopinavir + ritonavir), by Abbott Laboratories

* Also sold as Aluvia in some parts of the world.

 Kaletra Two tablets, twice a day (a total of 4 pills a day), or, if starting therapy for the first time, four tablets once a day (see Notes for exceptions). Each tablet contains 200mg lopinavir + 50mg ritonavir. A pediatric formulation is also available. Nausea, diarrhea, stomach discomfort, weakness, increased cholesterol, increased triglycerides, lipodystrophy, increased glucose (sugar), increased liver enzyme levels, and increased bleeding in patients with hemophilia

Can be taken with or without food. Does not need to be refrigerated.

Sustiva (efavirenz), Viramune (nevirapine), Lexiva (fosamprenavir), and Viracept (nelfinavir) may lower the amount of Kaletra in the bloodstream. If you have tried and failed other anti-HIV medications in the past, especially other protease inhibitors, it may be necessary to increase your dose of Kaletra if you are also taking any of these four drugs (three tablets twice a day). Kaletra should not be taken once-daily with these drugs.

Lexiva (fosamprenavir), by GlaxoSmithKline

* Also sold as Telzir in some parts of the world.

 Lexiva Two 700mg tablets, twice a day (a total of 4 pills a day), or two 700mg tablets plus one 100mg Norvir capsule, once a day (a total of 3 pills a day), or one 700mg tablet plus one 100mg Norvir capsule twice a day (a total of 4 pills a day). This last dosing option should be used for patients who have tried and failed other protease inhibitors in the past. A pediatric formulation is also available. Skin rash, nausea, diarrhea, stomach discomfort, headache, increased cholesterol, increased triglycerides, lipodystrophy, increased glucose (sugar), increased liver enzyme levels, and increased bleeding in patients with hemophilia Take with or without food. Patients who have previously taken a protease inhibitor should take one 700mg tablet plus one 100mg Norvir capsule twice a day (a total of 4 pills a day).
Norvir (ritonavir), by Abbott Laboratories Norvir Six 100mg capsules, twice a day (a total of 12 pills a day). Start with 3 capsules, twice a day, and increase to full dose over 14 days. Note: the full dose of Norvir is rarely used any more. Norvir is most often used at much lower doses to "boost" the levels of other protease inhibitors in the body. A pediatric formulation is also available.

Special warning:* Taking Norvir with certain allergy medications, sedatives, heart medications, and migraine medications can increase the risk of their side effects.

Nausea, diarrhea, stomach discomfort, numbness or tingling around the mouth and in the limbs (paresthesias), increased cholesterol, increased triglycerides, lipodystrophy, hepatitis, weakness, increased glucose (sugar), increased liver enzyme levels, and increased bleeding in patients with hemophilia

 Take with food. High-fat snacks may reduce side effects. Capsules and oral solution may be stored at room temperature, but should be refrigerated in hot weather. Solution can be mixed with chocolate syrup, chocolate ice cream, or Ensure to mask the taste.
Prezista (darunavir) by Tibotec Prezista Prezista must be used in combination with Norvir. The approved dose is two 400mg Prezista tablets plus one 100mg Norvir capsule, once a day (for those starting HIV treatment for the first time), or one 600mg tablet plus one 100 mg Norvir capsule, twice a day (for treatment-experienced patients). Nausea, diarrhea, stomach discomfort, headache, increased cholesterol, increased triglycerides, lipodystrophy, increased glucose (sugar), increased liver enzyme levels, inflammation of the nose and throat, and increased bleeding in patients with hemophilia Prezista and Norvir should be taken with food, although the type and amount of food does not matter. If taken with ddI (Videx or Videx EC), Prezista/Norvir should be taken at least two hours before or one hour after taking ddI.
Reyataz (atazanavir), by Bristol-Myers Squibb Reyataz 200mg
Reyataz 300mg		 Two 200mg capsules, once a day (a total of 2 pills a day), or one 300mg capsule plus one 100mg Norvir capsule, once a day (a total of 2 pills a day). Increased bilirubin (not harmful), abnormal electrocardiogram results, increased glucose (sugar), lipodystrophy, and increased bleeding in patients with hemophilia Take with a light meal. For patients who have taken anti-HIV drugs in the past, the recommended dose is 300mg Reyataz plus 100mg Norvir (all as a single dose with food). This combination of Reyataz and Norvir is also recommended for patients who are using either Viread (tenofovir) or Sustiva (efavirenz) in a drug regimen that involves Reyataz.
Viracept (nelfinavir), by Pfizer Viracept Two 625mg tablets, two times a day (a total of 4 pills a day), or five 250mg tablets, twice a day, or three 250mg tablets, three times a day (a total of 9-10 pills a day). A pediatric formulation is also available. Diarrhea, increased cholesterol, increased triglycerides, lipodystrophy, increased glucose (sugar), increased liver enzyme levels, increased bleeding in patients with hemophilia, increased liver enzymes Take with a meal or light snack. Your body absorbs the drug better with food in your stomach. If you have trouble swallowing the pills, there is a powder formulation that can be dissolved in water for easy drinking.
* "Special warnings" reflects side effects reviewed in the "Black Box Warnings" that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has required manufacturers to list in the package inserts for some HIV drugs. These are the most dangerous side effects that healthcare providers and people living with HIV should be aware of. However, drugs without Black Box Warnings can still have serious side effects.
Nucleoside/Nucleotide Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTIs)
Drug Adult Dosing Possible Side Effects Notes

Atripla (Sustiva* + Viread + Emtriva), by Gilead Science and Bristol-Myers Squibb

* Sustiva is a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)

 Atripla One tablet (contains 600mg Sustiva + 300mg Viread + 200mg Emtriva), once a day (a total of one pill a day).

Similar side effects to Sustiva (efavirenz), Viread (tenofovir), and Emtriva (emtricitabine).

Please note Viread's and Emtriva's special warnings.

This is a complete one-pill, once-daily drug regimen. It can be used with or without other HIV medications.

It is recommended that Atripla be taken on an empty stomach. Dose should be taken at bedtime to minimize dizziness, drowsiness and impaired concentration.

See additional notes in the descriptions of Emtriva, Viread, and Sustiva below.
Combivir (Retrovir + Epivir), by GlaxoSmithKline Combivir One tablet (contains 300mg Retrovir + 150mg Epivir), twice a day (a total of 2 pills a day)

Similar side effects to Retrovir (zidovudine) and Epivir (lamivudine).

Please note Retrovir's and Epivir's special warnings.

 Take with or without food, however taking it with food may minimize stomach upset.
Emtriva (emtricitabine), by Gilead Sciences Emtriva One 200mg capsule once a day. A pediatric formulation is also available.

Special warnings:* Buildup of acid in the blood; fatty liver; should be used carefully by people with hepatitis B.

Minimal side effects.

 Take with or without food.
Epivir (lamivudine; 3TC), by GlaxoSmithKline Epivir One 300mg tablet, once a day, or one 150mg tablet, twice a day (a total of 1 or 2 pills a day). A pediatric formulation is also available.

Special warnings:* Buildup of acid in the blood; fatty liver; should be used carefully by people with hepatitis B.

Minimal side effects.

 Take with or without food. Epivir is also used to treat patients infected with the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), but at a different dose. If you are dually infected with HIV and HBV, the dosage indicated for HIV therapy should be used.

Epzicom* (Ziagen + Epivir), by GlaxoSmithKline

* Also sold as Kivexa in some parts of the world.

 Epzicom One tablet (contains 600mg Ziagen + 300mg Epivir), once a day

Similar side effects to Epivir (lamivudine) and Ziagen (abacavir).

Please note Epivir's and Ziagen's special warning.

 Take with or without food.
Retrovir (zidovudine; AZT), by GlaxoSmithKline Retrovir One 300mg tablet, twice a day (a total of 2 pills a day). A pediatric formulation is also available.

Special warnings:* Anemia and decrease in white blood cells; damage to muscle; buildup of acid in the blood; fatty liver.

Nausea, stomach discomfort, headache, insomnia, and weakness.

 Taking with food may minimize stomach discomfort.
Trizivir (Retrovir + Epivir + Ziagen), by GlaxoSmithKline Trizivir One tablet (contains 300mg Retrovir + 150mg Epivir + 300mg Ziagen), twice a day (a total of 2 pills a day)

Similar side effects to Retrovir (zidovudine), Epivir (lamivudine), and Ziagen (abacavir).

Please note Retrovir's, Epivir's and Ziagen's special warnings.

 Take with or without food. Do not take Trizivir if you weigh less than 90 pounds (40 kg).
Truvada (Viread + Emtriva), by Gilead Sciences Truvada One tablet (contains 300mg Viread + 200mg Emtriva), once a day

Similar side effects to Viread (tenofovir) and Emtriva (emtricitabine).

Please note Viread's and Emtriva's special warnings.

 Take with or without food.
Videx (didanosine; ddI): buffered versions, by Bristol-Myers Squibb Videx Two 100mg tablets twice a day (a total of 4 pills a day), or two 200mg tablets, once a day (a total of 2 pills a day). For patients weighing less than 133 lbs. (60 kg), click here. A pediatric formulation is also available.

Special warnings:* Damage to the pancreas (pancreatitis); buildup of acid in the blood; fatty liver.

Numbness, tingling, or pain in the hands or feet (peripheral neuropathy); nausea; diarrhea.

 Clinical data supports twice-daily dosing as more effective. Take on an empty stomach (at least 2 hours after & 30 minutes before a meal). Okay to take at the same time as all NRTIs. The buffered versions of Videx should not be taken at the same time as any of the protease inhibitors (PIs); PIs should be taken two hours before or two hours after Videx. The NNRTIs Viramune and Sustiva can be taken at the same time as Videx; the NNRTI Rescriptor should be taken at least one hour before or one hour after Videx. Avoid alcohol.

Videx EC* (didanosine; ddI): delayed-release capsules, by Bristol-Myers Squibb

* Also sold generically in the United States.

 Videx EC One 400mg capsule once a day. For patients weighing less than 133 lbs. (60 kg), the dose is one 250mg capsule once a day.

Special warnings:* Damage to the pancreas (pancreatitis); buildup of acid in the blood; fatty liver.

Numbness, tingling, or pain in the hands or feet (peripheral neuropathy); nausea; diarrhea.

 Take Videx EC on an empty stomach (2 hours after & 1 hour before a meal). Can be taken at the same time as all other anti-HIV medications, with the exception of the protease inhibitor Aptivus; Videx EC should be taken at least two hours after or two hours before Aptivus. Avoid alcohol.
Viread (tenofovir DF), by Gilead Sciences Viread One 300mg tablet once a day.

Special warnings:* Buildup of acid in the blood; fatty liver; should be used carefully by people with hepatitis B.

Weakness, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, flatulence (intestinal gas), and kidney problems.

 Take with or without food. If taken with ddI (Videx or Videx EC), it can increase ddI levels in the blood by as much as 60%, causing increased ddI side effects.
Zerit (stavudine; d4T), by Bristol-Myers Squibb Zerit One 40mg capsule, every 12 hours (a total of 2 pills a day). For patients weighing less than 133 lbs. (60 kg), click here. A pediatric formulation is also available.

Special warnings:* Buildup of acid in the blood (has been fatal in pregnant women when combined with Videx/Videx EC); fatty liver; damage to the pancreas (when combined with Videx/Videx EC).

Numbness, tingling, or pain in the hands or feet (peripheral neuropathy); lipodystrophy; muscular weakness (rare); increased cholesterol and triglycerides.

 Take with or without food. Do not take with Retrovir (zidovudine) or Combivir (zidovudine + lamivudine).
Ziagen (abacavir), by GlaxoSmithKline Ziagen One 300mg tablet twice a day, or two tablets once a day (a total of 2 pills a day). A pediatric formulation is also available. Special warnings:* severe allergic reactions (symptoms include fever; rash; severe nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain; sore throat; cough; and shortness of breath); buildup of acid in the blood; fatty liver. Take with or without food.
* "Special warnings" reflects side effects reviewed in the "Black Box Warnings" that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has required manufacturers to list in the package inserts for some HIV drugs. These are the most dangerous side effects that healthcare providers and people living with HIV should be aware of. However, drugs without Black Box Warnings can still have serious side effects.
Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NNRTIs)
Drug Adult Dosing Possible Side Effects Notes

Atripla (Sustiva + Viread* + Emtriva*), by Gilead Science and Bristol-Myers Squibb

* Viread and Emtriva are nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs)

 Atripla One tablet (contains 600mg Sustiva + 300mg Viread + 200mg Emtriva), once a day (a total of one pill a day).

Similar side effects to Sustiva (efavirenz), Viread (tenofovir), and Emtriva (emtricitabine).

Please note Viread's and Emtriva's special warnings (above).

This is a complete one-pill, once-daily drug regimen. It can be used with or without other HIV medications.

It is recommended that Atripla be taken on an empty stomach. Dose should be taken at bedtime to minimize dizziness, drowsiness and impaired concentration.

See additional notes in the descriptions of Sustiva (below), Emtriva, and Viread (above).
Intelence (etravirine), by Tibotec Intelence Two 100mg tablets, twice a day (a total of 4 pills a day) Rash, nausea. Intelence should be taken following a meal (e.g., breakfast and dinner). It should not be combined with the following: Norvir (ritonavir)-boosted Aptivus (tipranavir), Norvir-boosted Lexiva (fosamprenavir) or Norvir-boosted Reyataz (atazanavir); any protease inhibitors given without a boosting dose of Norvir; or any of the other approved NNRTIs. It should also be used carefully when combined with Kaletra (lopinavir/ritonavir).
Rescriptor (delavirdine), by Pfizer Rescriptor Two 200mg tablets, three times a day (a total of 6 pills a day) Rash, increased liver enzymes, and headaches. Take with or without food. Rescriptor can increase the blood levels of all of the available protease inhibitors. In turn, the dose of the protease inhibitor being used may need to be decreased. You should not take buffered Videx (ddI) tablets—or anything containing an antacid—within one hour of a dose of Rescriptor. Both antacids and Videx tablets (which contain an antacid) can block Rescriptor from being absorbed into the bloodstream.

Sustiva* (efavirenz), by Bristol-Myers Squibb

* Also sold as Stocrin in some parts of the world.

 Sustiva One 600mg tablet once a day (just 1 pill a day)

Rash; central nervous system symptoms, such as drowsiness, insomnia, confusion, inability to concentrate, dizziness, and vivid dreams; increased liver enzymes; false-positive drug testing (marijuana); and birth defects if taken during pregnancy.

See Tips & Tricks on Taking Sustiva.

 It is recommended that Sustiva be taken on an empty stomach. Dose should be taken at bedtime to minimize dizziness, drowsiness and impaired concentration. If Sustiva is taken with the protease inhibitors Reyataz, Invirase, Kaletra, Crixivan, Agenerase, or Lexiva, their doses may need to be increased or they may need to be combined with a low dose of Norvir (e.g., 100 mg) to help maintain necessary drug levels in the bloodstream.
Viramune (nevirapine), by Boehringer Ingelheim Viramune One 200mg tablet per day for 14 days, then one 200mg tablet, twice a day (a total of 2 pills a day). A pediatric formulation is also available. Special warnings:* Severe, life-threatening liver problems, notably among women with T cell counts greater than 250; severe skin reactions; careful dosing and monitoring needed at start of treatment. Take with or without food. Once daily dosing recommendation based on limited clinical data. If Viramune is taken with the protease inhibitors Reyataz, Invirase, Kaletra, Crixivan, Agenerase, or Lexiva, their doses may need to be increased or they may need to be combined with a low dose of Norvir (e.g., 100 mg) to help maintain necessary drug levels in the bloodstream.
* "Special warnings" reflects side effects reviewed in the "Black Box Warnings" that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has required manufacturers to list in the package inserts for some HIV drugs. These are the most dangerous side effects that healthcare providers and people living with HIV should be aware of. However, drugs without Black Box Warnings can still have serious side effects.
Entry Inhibitors (including Fusion Inhibitors)
Drug Adult Dosing Possible Side Effects Notes
Fuzeon (T-20), by Trimeris and Hoffmann-La Roche Fuzeon Two 90mg (in 1-ml solution) subcutaneous (under the skin) injections a day. Skin reactions where Fuzeon is injected can include itching, swelling, redness, pain or tenderness, hardened skin, or bumps; increased risk of bacterial pneumonia; serious allergic reaction (rare). Fuzeon comes as a white powder that must be carefully mixed with in a vial with sterile water each day—a complicated process called "reconstitution".

Selzentry* (maraviroc), by Pfizer

* Also sold as Celsentri outside the U.S.

 Selzentry Because of drug interactions, the dose will depend on the other medications being used at the same time as Selzentry. The correct dose will either be 150mg, 300mg, or 600mg, twice a day (a total of 2 or 4 pills a day). The most common side effects are cough, fever, colds, rash, muscle and joint pain, stomach pain and dizziness. Less common side effects include cardiovascular problems and liver toxicity. Because Selzentry blocks the CCR5 coreceptor located on some immune system cells, there is a theoretical risk of developing infections and cancers. Selzentry is only effective against CCR5-tropic HIV (virus that uses the CCR5 receptor on CD4 cells). It will not be effective against virus targeting CXCR4 (and will have a limited effect against HIV with the ability to target both receptors). A tropism assay, such as Monogram Bioscience's Trofile, will be necessary before Selzentry is used to determine if treatment with the drug will be useful.
Integrase Inhibitors
Drug Adult Dosing Possible Side Effects Notes
Isentress (raltegravir), by Merck & Co. Isentress One 400mg tablet twice a day (two pills a day). The side effects most common side effects are diarrhea, nausea, and headache. In clinical trials, blood tests showed abnormally elevated levels of a muscle enzyme—creatine kinase—in some patients receiving Isentress. Isentress should be used with caution by patients who are at increased risk for muscle problems like myopathy and rhabdomyolysis, which includes patients using other medications known to cause these conditions. Take with or without food. Because Isentress is metabolized differently than most other antiretrovirals and many other medications, it can be combined safely with PIs, NNRTIs, methadone, opioid pain relievers, statins, antifungals, proton pump inhibitors, oral contraceptives, and erectile dysfunction drugs.