Guides

Tables and diagrams

We’ve collected key tables and diagrams in the guide here for ease of reference.

When not on treatment, your immune system works in overdrive

CD4 increases on ART

Chart showing how CD4 increases on ART

Drug levels with good adherence

Good drug levels

Drug doses are calculated so that average drug levels are high enough to be active against HIV for 24 hours a day. They are also low enough to minimise the risk of side effects.

A missed or late dose increases the risk of resistance

Missed dose = low drug levels

Missing or being late with a drug lets the drug levels fall to a level where resistance can develop. The more often you are late, the greater the chance of resistance.

The main types of hiv drugs

Table 1: Main types of HIV drugs
Abbreviation Full name(s)
NRTIs/NtRTIs (“nukes”) nucleoside/tide reverse transcriptase inhibitors or nucleoside/tide analogues
NNRTIs
(“non-nukes”)
non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors
PIs protease inhibitors
INIs (or INSTIs) integrase strand transfer inhibitors
CCR5 inhibitors CCR5 inhibitors are a type of entry inhibitor
mAbs monoclonal antibodies – which also block entry to the CD4 cell
Fusion inhibitors fusion inhibitors are a type of entry inhibitor
PK boosters Ritonavir or cobicistat are included in some combinations to boost another drug

HIV lifecycle – how drugs work in different ways

If a CD4 cell is infected by HIV, this cell is used to produce hundreds of new copies of HIV. Different drugs block different parts of this HIV life cycle.

Last updated: 1 June 2022.