Antiretroviral Therapy: What It Is, How It Works, and Key Drug Interactions

When someone is diagnosed with HIV, antiretroviral therapy, a combination of medicines that block HIV from copying itself in the body. Also known as ART, it doesn’t cure HIV—but it turns it into a manageable condition, letting people live long, healthy lives. Without it, the virus keeps attacking CD4 cells, the immune system’s frontline defenders. Over time, that leads to AIDS. But with consistent ART, viral load drops to undetectable levels, meaning the virus can’t be passed on—and the body can rebuild its defenses.

ART isn’t one drug. It’s usually a mix of three or more from different classes, like boosted protease inhibitors, drugs that stop HIV from assembling new virus particles, often paired with ritonavir or cobicistat to boost their effect, or integrase inhibitors, medicines that block HIV from inserting its DNA into human cells, now often the first choice because they’re potent and well-tolerated. These combinations are carefully chosen to avoid resistance and minimize side effects. But here’s the catch: many of these drugs don’t play well with others. A common painkiller, a cholesterol pill, or even an antacid can throw off how ART works—sometimes dangerously. For example, statins like simvastatin can build up to toxic levels when taken with certain boosted protease inhibitors. Antacids can slash absorption of some HIV drugs if taken too close together. These aren’t theoretical risks. Clinicians see these interactions daily, and they can mean the difference between control and treatment failure.

That’s why knowing what’s in your medicine cabinet matters as much as sticking to your HIV meds. The posts below dig into real-world cases: how ritonavir interacts with steroids, why some antidepressants can’t be mixed with ART, and what timing tricks keep your treatment working. You’ll find clear comparisons of drug pairs, warnings about common OTC meds, and practical tips used by doctors to avoid dangerous clashes. Whether you’re on ART, caring for someone who is, or just trying to understand how these drugs fit into the bigger picture of health, this collection gives you the facts you need—not guesswork.