What kind of treatment is available for HIV?

The medications that we use to treat HIV are a class called antiretrovirals.
We have several different classes of the antiretrovirals that work at different stages of the HIV lifecycle.
So HIV first attaches to your immune system cells, we have medications that actually stop that. When it goes into the cell and reproduces its genetic material, we have a class of medication that works on that.
When it starts to bud out from the T-cell, kills the T-cell and then reproduces itself, we have areas where it can stop that as well. So it’s important to understand that there are different classes of these antiretrovirals but they all work in synergy to really help stop the virus at these different levels. And then it becomes more effective as a treatment overall.

Dr. David Malebranche, MD, MPH, a clinician-researcher specializing in HIV, gives the lowdown on all things HIV care and treatment in the latest installment of the #AskTheHIVDoc video series.

 

#AskTheHIVDoc is a video series from Greater Than HIV featuring top HIV doctors providing answers to commonly-asked questions about HIV prevention, testing and treatment.

This information is shared for educational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice. The views expressed are those of the featured medical professional and reflect information available to that professional at time of filming. Always consult a health care provider for any personal health decision.

While we make every effort to keep the medical information on our website updated, we cannot guarantee that the information reflects the most up-to-date research. Also, please note the views expressed by individuals who appear in Greater Than HIV videos and other content are their own and are not made on behalf of any groups/organizations/associations.

Let's Talk About HIV Treatment! written in white in a light blue speech bubble

Let’s Talk about HIV Treatment!

Why does treatment matter? How well does it work? When to start?

Get answers to these and more frequently-asked questions about HIV treatment. Also find care and other support services near you.

Watch videos with real people sharing their experiences going from diagnosis to care and treatment to maintaining viral suppression.

Learn More