Triumeq
Abacavir, Dolutegravir, Lamivudine
600/50/300mg
Abacavir, dolutegravir and lamivudine in one tablet, used in the management of HIV infection. Three agents against three stages of the viral cycle.
From$8.69/ tabletView
HIV Infection
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) targets CD4 immune cells, gradually weakening the body’s defences if left untreated. With modern antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV is a manageable chronic condition rather than a fatal one. People on effective treatment achieve undetectable viral loads, stay well, and cannot transmit the virus sexually.
Tenofovir Emtricitabine
300/200mg
Tenofovir with emtricitabine as a 300/200mg film-coated tablet, for HIV infection and pre-exposure prophylaxis. Two reverse transcriptase inhibitors.
From$1.84/ tabletView
Darunavir Tablets
600 · 800mg
Darunavir 600mg and 800mg film-coated tablets, used in the management of HIV infection. A protease inhibitor that halts assembly of new virus.
From$9.35/ tabletView
Key points
- Early infection often causes a brief flu-like illness, after which the virus enters a long silent phase.
- Left untreated, the immune system weakens progressively until the body becomes vulnerable to infections it would normally fight off.
- Effective control relies on pairing medicines from several different classes, taken continuously since pausing allows the virus to resurge.
How the virus progresses
After initial infection, many people experience a short flu-like illness (fever, swollen glands, sore throat) that resolves on its own. The virus then enters a long silent phase during which CD4 counts slowly fall. Without treatment, this eventually leads to AIDS, a stage defined by severe immune suppression and opportunistic infections.
Antiretroviral treatment
ART combines medicines from different drug classes to suppress the virus below detectable levels. Common backbone agents include lamivudine, abacavir, and zidovudine, paired with integrase inhibitors such as dolutegravir or raltegravir, or the non-nucleoside agent efavirenz. Treatment is lifelong; stopping allows the virus to rebound. The full range of available regimens is listed in the HIV management category, which sits within the broader antivirals section.
When to seek urgent care
Sudden severe headache, stiff neck, confusion, difficulty breathing, or unexplained rapid weight loss in someone with HIV warrant same-day medical attention, as these can signal opportunistic infections that need prompt treatment.