Know Your HIV Drugs: Protease Inhibitors

This is the final installment of our three-part series on antiretroviral drugs. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the first protease inhibitors (PIs) in April, 1996 marked a turning point in the fight against HIV. AIDS-related deaths dropped dramatically in subsequent years and many people experienced dramatic recoveries in health as a result of PIs. However, PIs always brought many side effects, and the long-term implications of these side effects is still undetermined. In this issue we will review each of the FDA drugs currently approved in this class of antiretrovirals, including a brief description of the common side effects associated with each drug.

Contents:

• Protease Inhibitors (PIs)
  1. Viracept (aka: nelfinavir)
  2. Crixivan (aka: indinavir)
  3. Fortovase (aka: saquinavir)
  4. Norvir (aka: ritonavir)
  5. Amprenavir (aka: agenerase)

Special thanks to the following for contributing written material to this publication:

• STEP Publications Advisory Committee
• Brian Coppedge, Sr. Treatment Educator

We also appreciate the financial support for this and other STEP programs from:

• The Washington State Department of Health

STEP reviews a wide spectrum of HIV treatment options but does not endorse any particular treatment, product, company, or individual. Participation in the preparation of the materials included in the Ezine does not imply endorsement by any of the individuals who have contributed to its production.

STEP Ezine is a publication of the Seattle Treatment Education Project copyright 2000. Permission required for republishing articles (and gladly given in most circumstances).