Antiretroviral pharmacology

There are now more than 25 anti-retroviral medications (ARVs) available for the treatment of HIV. These drugs have distinct sites of action in the HIV life cycle and unique pharmacological properties that dictate how they can be used safely in the treatment of HIV. Drug-drug interactions can occur because of alterations to several pharmaco-dynamic processes, including absorption and drug transport, but hepatic metabolism is clinically the most important. Co-administration of antiretrovirals with other, more commonly used drugs is becoming commonplace and clinicians must be aware of potentially serious interactions that can lead to treatment failure and toxicity.