Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors

Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors

Definition

This type of drug interferes with an enzyme that is key to the replication (reproduction) of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The drug is designed to help suppress the growth of HIV, but does not eliminate it.

Purpose

This medication is used to treat patients with the HIV virus and AIDS in combination with one or more other AIDS drugs. Combining NRTIs with older drugs improves their ability to lower the levels of HIV in the bloodstream, and strengthens the immune system.

HIV becomes rapidly resistant to this class of drugs when they are used alone. However, in combination with older drugs, they can interfere with the virus's ability to become resistant because they attack the virus on several fronts. As the virus tries to evade one drug, another attacks. This combination can lower the level of HIV in the blood to undetectable levels.

Precautions

Patients should not discontinue this drug even if symptoms improve without consultation with a physician.

Description

Nucleoside analogues, the first class of HIV drugs to be developed, worked by incorporating themselves into the virus's DNA, making the DNA incomplete and therefore unable to create a new virus. Non-nucleoside inhibitors work at the same stage as nucleoside analogues, but act in a completely different way, preventing the conversion of RNA to DNA.

This class of drugs includes nevirapine (Viramune) and delavirdine (Rescriptor). It may take several weeks or months before the full benefits are apparent.

Depending on the drug prescribed, doses may start with a lower amount and be increased after a short period of time.

Risks

A mild skinrash iscommon; a severeskin rashcan be a life threatening reaction. Other possible side effects include fever, blistering skin, mouth sores, aching joints, eye inflammation, headache, nausea, and tiredness.

Because the drug passes into breast milk, breastfeeding mothers should avoid the drug, or not nurse until the treatment is completed.

Resources

Organizations

National AIDS Treatment Advocacy Project. 580 Broadway, Ste. 403, New York, NY 10012. (888) 266-2827. http://www.natap.org.

Key terms

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) — The virus that causes AIDS.

Mentioned in	?		References in periodicals archive	?		Medical browser	?		Full browser	?
No references found	Intrapartum and neonatal single-dose nevirapine are commonly used and essential in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in resource-poor settings, but may induce resistance to other non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. A single dose of tenofovir and emtricitabine can reduce resistance by Farham, Bridget / CME: Your SA Journal of CPD Currently, there are 4 groups of antiretroviral medications used to treat HIV/AIDS: 1) nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors or "nukes," 2) non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors or "non-nukes," 3) protease inhibitors, and 4) entry inhibitors (see table below). HIV drug therapy--the HAART of the matter by Williams, Marjorie / HIV Treatment: ALERTS! Roles of conformational and positional adaptability in structure-based design of TMC125-R165335 (etravirine) and related non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors that are highly potent and effective against wild type and drug-resistant HIV variants. TMC125: important one-year trial now recruiting in U.S by James, John S. / AIDS Treatment News	non- non-A non-A, non-B hepatitis non-accidental trauma non-acid-fast non-articular rheumatism non-bacterial endocarditis non-bacterial prostatitis Non-cardiac chest pain non-coital sex non-gonococcal bacterial arthritis non-gonococcal urethritis non-hemolytic transfusion reaction non-Hodgkin's lymphoma non-Hodgkins' lymphoma non-infectious infections non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus Non-Invasive non-invasive positive pressure ventilation non-ionizing radiation non-ketotic hyperglycemic coma non-NAV terms non-neuronal non-normality non-nucleoside analogue Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors Non-Nutritive Dietary Component non-perforating abomasum ulcer non-Q-wave infarction non-rapid eye movement non-rapid eye movement sleep non-self non-sister chromatid non-small cell carcinoma non-small cell carcinoma of lung non-starter Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs non-traditional cancer therapy non-ulcer dyspepsia non–medically qualified practitioner nona- nonabsorbable surgical sutures nonabsorbable suture nonadaptive immunity nonadherent cell nonadherent dressing nonadhesive skin traction nonadrenergic noncholinergic nonaerobic exercise nonalcoholic nonan	Non-Normed Fit Index non-nuclear non-nuclear Non-Nuclear Accident/Incident Non-Nuclear Armament Plan Non-Nuclear Consumables Annual Analysis Non-Nuclear Electromagnetic Pulse Non-Nuclear Energy Non-Nuclear Kill Non-Nuclear Lance Non-Nuclear Munitions Safety Board Non-Nuclear Munitions Safety Group Non-Nuclear Nation Non-Nuclear Ordnance Requirement Non-Nuclear Reactor Support Non-Nuclear Strategic Weapons Non-Nuclear Survivability/Vulnerability Program Plan Non-Nuclear Weapons Country Non-Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical non-nucleoside non-nucleoside analogue Non-Nucleoside Binding Pocket Non-Nucleoside Binding Site Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors Non-nude non-numeric programming Non-numerical Unstructured Data Non-numerical Unstructured Data Indexing, Searching, and Theorizing Non-Nutritive Dietary Component Non-nutritive sweetener Non-nutritive sweetener Non-Obese Diabetic Non-Objecting Beneficial Owner Non-Objecting Beneficial Owner Non-Objecting Beneficial Owners Non-objective art Non-objective art Non-Obligatory Expenditure Non-Obligatory Expenditures non-observance Non-Observed Economies Non-Observed Economies Non-Observed Economy Non-Observed Economy Non-Observed Economy Non-obstructive Azoospermia Non-obstructive Azoospermia Non-obstructive Azoospermia Non-Obstructive Cardiomyopathy Non-Obvious Relationship Awareness Non-Occluded Shrimp Virus Non-Occlusive Intestinal Infarction Non-Occlusive Intestinal Ischemia Non-Occlusive Mesenteric Infarction

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No references found

Intrapartum and neonatal single-dose nevirapine are commonly used and essential in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in resource-poor settings, but may induce resistance to other non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors.

A single dose of tenofovir and emtricitabine can reduce resistance by Farham, Bridget / CME: Your SA Journal of CPD

Currently, there are 4 groups of antiretroviral medications used to treat HIV/AIDS: 1) nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors or "nukes," 2) non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors or "non-nukes," 3) protease inhibitors, and 4) entry inhibitors (see table below).

HIV drug therapy--the HAART of the matter by Williams, Marjorie / HIV Treatment: ALERTS!

Roles of conformational and positional adaptability in structure-based design of TMC125-R165335 (etravirine) and related non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors that are highly potent and effective against wild type and drug-resistant HIV variants.

TMC125: important one-year trial now recruiting in U.S by James, John S. / AIDS Treatment News

non-

non-A

non-A, non-B hepatitis

non-accidental trauma

non-acid-fast

non-articular rheumatism

non-bacterial endocarditis

non-bacterial prostatitis

Non-cardiac chest pain

non-coital sex

non-gonococcal bacterial arthritis