|
NRTI
|
NNRTI
|
PI
|
|---|---|---|
| Stavudine | Nevirapine (Hirapine ®) | Indinavir (Crixivan ®) |
| Lamivudine (3TC ®) | Efavirenz (Stocrin ®) | Ritonavir (Norvir ®) |
| Zidovudine (Retrovir ®) | Lopinavir (Kaletra ®) | |
| Didanosine (Dinex EC ®) | Darunavir (Prezista ®) | |
| Tenofovir (Tenvir ®) | ||
| Abacavir (Ziagen ®) |
HAART is started when CD4 cell counts are less than 350cells/mm³. CD4 is a laboratory marker that is used to assess one’s immune status, with a normal CD4 counts to be between 500-1000 cells/mm³. Evidence states that there is a higher likehood of CD4 normalisation if HAART is initiated earlier.
The first line treatment consists of 2 drugs from the NRTI group and 1 drug from the NNRTI group. This set of medications will be supplied by the Ministry of Health for life if patients are successfully treated on the first line treatment. Second-line treatment consists of 2 NRTIs and 2 PIs, but one of the PI drugs will have to be purchased by the patient, whilst the remaining medications will be supplied by the Ministry of Health.
The selection of the antiretroviral regimen is based on several factors including comorbid conditions such as cardiovascular disease, liver disease or tuberculosis, pregnancy, potential drug interactions, gender, baseline CD4 counts and patient adherence potential.