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Anti-HIV medications battle the enzymes

All anti-HIV medications attack the virus inside the CD4 cell where the virus is trying to make copies of itself. These medications, called enzyme inhibitors, work by blocking the enzymes used by HIV. There are four types of anti-HIV medications: NRTIs (nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors) NNRTIs (Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors) PIs (Protease inhibitors) Entry Inhibitors

NRTIs and NNRTIs keep HIV from changing

NRTIs and NNRTIs stop the enzyme "reverse transcriptase" -- the enzyme HIV uses to change and enter the CD4 cell. Unable to change, HIV cannot get into the cell's command center. HIV is unable to make new copies of itself.

PIs stop the assembly of new virus

PIs stop the enzyme "protease" -- which HIV uses to cut out and assemble new viral parts. Although new viral parts may be produced, the parts don't go together properly. The defective virus cannot go on to infect other cells.

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