A powerful combination

Low pill count

Once-daily combinations possible

Works well with high viral loads

Works well with low T-cell counts

More effective than 2 NRTIs and an unboosted protease inhibitor (PI)

Common side effects of NNRTIs*

Common side effects of NRTIs*

Sustiva should not be used by pregnant women or women thinking of becoming pregnant

Viramune should not be started in women with a T-cell count over 250 or in men with a T-cell count over 400

Preserves PIs for later use

There is the potential that resistance to one NRTI could result in resistance to other NRTIs

• Sustiva + (Epzicom or Truvada)***
• Atripla***

Alternative Regimens

• Viramune + (Combivir or Epivir + Videx or Emtriva)

A powerful combination

Once-daily combinations possible

Works well with high viral loads

Works well with low T-cell counts

When PIs are "boosted" with Norvir, PIs are more powerful, but there is a risk of:

• Increased side effects

• Increased lipids

• Greater possibility for drug interactions

Common side effects of NRTIs*

Common side effects of PIs*

Preserves NNRTIs for later in case of resistance

The failure of a first-line, boosted PI regimen does not result in any PI cross-resistance. However, failure of an unboosted PI regimen (with the exception of Reyataz) may result in PI cross-resistance.

There is the potential that resistance to one NRTI could result in resistance to other NRTIs

• Reyataz + Norvir + (Epzicom or Truvada)
• Twice-daily Kaletra + (Epzicom or Truvada)
• Twice-daily Lexiva + Norvir + (Epzicom or Truvada)

Alternative Regimens

• Lexiva + (Combivir or Videx + Epivir or Emtriva)
• Once-daily Kaletra + (Combivir or Videx + Epivir or Emtriva)
• Once-daily Lexiva + Norvir + (Combivir or Videx + Epivir or Emtriva)
• Reyataz + (Combivir or Videx + Epivir or Emtriva)

** Our list of regimens comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' HIV treatment guidelines. The guidelines label specific regimens as "preferred," which means they should be considered first, or "alternative." Remember, these regimens are only general recommendations; please talk with your doctor about which combination of HIV medications is best for you.

*** For many of the NRTIs listed here, we've listed the name of a "fixed-dose combination," which is a single pill that combines two or more individual HIV medications. Many people find it easier to take these fixed-dose combinations rather than each individual medication separately. NRTI fixed-dose combinations are: Combivir (a combination of Epivir + Retrovir), Epzicom (a combination of Epivir + Ziagen), Trizivir (a combination of Epivir + Retrovir + Ziagen) and Truvada (a combination of Emtriva + Viread). There is only one dual-class fixed-dose combination: Atripla (a combination of Sustiva + Emtriva + Viread).