Is there an effective cure for HIV?

Many scientists now dream of finding an effective cure for HIV. The goal of treatment is to inhibit the development of the virus. For this, several drugs are combined into one medicinal product. To date, the most effective treatment is antiretroviral therapy. At the moment, only antiviral drugs are the best cure for HIV. But joking with these drugs is not worth it. These drugs require strict discipline of the patient.

Why is the anti-HIV drug called antiretroviral? Yes, because HIV is a retrovirus. Preparations, which were mentioned above, produce an effect on the virus. They oppress it and prevent it from multiplying.

Antiretroviral therapy is highly active, but does not cure completely of HIV infection. But it suppresses the virus very much. So much so that, by conducting sensitive tests to a patient who takes antiretroviral drugs, doctors can not absolutely find the presence of the virus in the blood. Although he is there.

The drug against HIV is highly effective when combined therapy is used. This therapy includes several drugs that are antiretroviral. This therapy gives the virus very little chance to develop resistance to drugs.

Antiretroviral therapy is the best cure for HIV. And it is applied strictly according to the doctor's prescription. If the patient does not comply with the medication regimen, then soon the drugs will stop helping him. And also there can be side effects. Therefore, only a doctor can choose the right combination of drugs.

Many hope that scientists will find a drug that completely cures of HIV infection. And when they find a cure for HIV, this ailment will be completely destroyed. But this has not happened yet.

The whole world is developing new drugs that are used in the treatment of HIV. The most promising are substances that do not allow the virus to enter the cell. Substances that the life of the virus block. And substances that do not allow the virus into the nucleus of the cell to build their genetic information. Develop also immunomodulators. These are medicines that strengthen the immune system and give it the strength to fight viruses.

The same medicines that you buy in pharmacies have several names. Also, these medicines can be sold under different brands. For example, ascorbic and vitamin C are one and the same. Namely, antiviral drugs are not very many, about 20.

But do not forget that antiretroviral drugs have side effects. They are very toxic. So toxic that they can even lead to the death of the patient.

For example, a drug such as "Zidovudine" depresses the bone marrow, leads to anemia, thrombocytopenia, fatty liver, headache, allergies, weakness. The drug "Didanosine" leads to acute pancreatitis, neuropathies, diarrhea, nausea. "Zalcitabine" - to hepatomegaly, stomatitis, sweating, pharyngitis, and leukopenia. "Stavudine" - to peripheral neuritis, asthenia, dyspepsia, insomnia, anorexia. "Lamivudine" - to neuropathy, vomiting, anemia, paresthesia. "Nevirapine" - to allergies, hepatitis, drowsiness, fever. "Abacavir" - to severe anorexia, stomatitis, conjunctivitis. "Phosphazide" - for dyspepsia, vomiting, headache.

More often, side effects are more pronounced at the initial stage of drug treatment. Long-term treatment results in HIV strains that are resistant to antiretroviral drugs.

What needs to be done to make antiretroviral therapy successful? Most important - a doctor-appointed and effective treatment schedule. This will help HIV-infected patients prolong life for several years.