Integrase Inhibitors: What They Are, How They Work, and Which Ones Are Used Today

When you hear integrase inhibitors, a class of antiretroviral drugs that block HIV from inserting its genetic code into human DNA. Also known as INSTIs, they’re one of the most effective tools we have today to control HIV. Before these drugs came along, HIV could slip into your cells and permanently lock its DNA into yours — making it nearly impossible to remove. Integrase inhibitors stop that step cold. They don’t kill the virus outright, but they stop it from spreading inside your body, letting your immune system catch up.

These drugs work by targeting a viral enzyme called integrase. Think of it like a lockpick: HIV uses integrase to break into your genome and start copying itself. Integrase inhibitors jam that lockpick so the virus can’t insert its blueprint. That’s why they’re so powerful — they hit HIV at a point where it has no backup plan. Common ones include dolutegravir, a once-daily pill with high resistance barriers and few side effects, raltegravir, the first in its class, often used in early treatment, and bictegravir, found in combo pills that simplify daily regimens. These aren’t just lab wonders — they’re what millions of people take every day to stay healthy and undetectable.

Integrase inhibitors don’t work alone. They’re almost always paired with other antiretrovirals, like NRTIs or NNRTIs, to keep the virus from mutating and resisting treatment. That’s why you’ll often see them in single-pill combos — like Biktarvy or Triumeq — that make adherence easier. If you’ve been diagnosed with HIV recently, chances are your doctor started you on one of these. Even if you’ve been on older meds, many people switch to integrase inhibitors because they’re simpler, safer, and more effective long-term.

They’re not perfect — some people report headaches, insomnia, or weight gain — but compared to older HIV drugs, the trade-offs are minimal. What’s more, they’re now the go-to for pregnant people with HIV, because they reduce the risk of passing the virus to the baby better than most alternatives. And unlike some older treatments, they don’t require strict timing with meals or complex dosing schedules.

Below, you’ll find real-world guides that break down how these drugs fit into daily treatment, how they compare to other HIV meds, and what to watch for when starting or switching. Whether you’re newly diagnosed, helping someone else, or just trying to understand the science behind modern HIV care, these posts give you clear, no-fluff answers — no jargon, no guesswork.