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infection. Take PEP as soon as possible after potential contact with the virus. PEP is a treatment lasting a total of 28 days, and physicians will continue to monitor for HIV after the completion of the treatment. Antiretroviral drugs The treatment of HIV involves antiretroviral medications that fight the HIV infection and slows down the spread of the virus in the body. People living with HIV generally take a combination of medications called highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) or combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). There are a number of subgroups of antiretrovirals, such as: Protease inhibitors Protease is an enzyme that HIV needs to replicate. These medications bind to the enzyme and inhibit its action, preventing HIV from making copies of itself. These include: atazanavir/cobicistat (Evotaz) lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra) darunavir/cobicistat (Prezcobix) Integrase inhibitorsHIV needs integrase, another enzyme, to infect T cells. This drug blocks integrase. These are often the first line of treatment due to their effectiveness and limited side effects for many people. Integrase inhibitors include: elvitegravir (Vitekta) dolutegravir (Tivicay) raltegravir (Isentress) Nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) These drugs, also referred to as "nukes," interfere with HIV as it tries to replicate. This class of drugs includes: abacavir (Ziagen) lamivudine/zidovudine (Combivir) emtricitabine (Emtriva) tenofovir disproxil (Viread) Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) NNRTIs work in a similar way to NRTIs, making it more difficult for HIV to replicate. Chemokine co-receptor antagonists These drugs block HIV from entering cells. However, doctors in the U.S. do not often prescribe these because other drugs are more effective. Entry inhibitors Entry inhibitors prevent HIV from entering T cells. Without access to these cells, HIV cannot replicate. As with chemokine co-receptor antagonists, they are not common in the United States. People will often use a combination of these drugs to suppress HIV. A medical team will adapt the exact mix of drugs to each individual. HIV treatment is usually permanent, lifelong, and based on routine dosage. A person living with HIV must take pills on a regular schedule. Each class of ARVs has different side effects, but possible common side effects include: nausea fatigue diarrhea headache skin rashes. Complementary or alternative medicine Although many people who have HIV try complementary, alternative, or herbal options, such as herbal remedies, no evidence confirms them to be effective. According to some limited studies, mineral or vitamin supplements may provide some benefits in overall health. It is important to discuss these options with a healthcare provider because some of these options, even vitamin supplements, may interact with ARVs. Prevention To prevent contracting HIV, healthcare professionals advise precautions related to the following. Sex using a condom or PrEP: Having sex without a condom or other preventive measures, such as PrEP, can drastically increase the risk of transmitting HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Use condoms or PrEP during every sexual act with a person outside of a trusted relationship in which neither partner has HIV. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force advise in their 2019 guidelines that doctors should only consider PrEP for people with recent negative results from an HIV test. They advise that those with a high risk of HIV, who are suitable for PrEP, should take it once a day. In the guidelines, the task force approves only one PrEP formation, which is a combination of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and emtricitabine. Drug injection and needle sharing: Intravenous drug use is a key factor for HIV transmission in developed countries. Sharing needles and other drug equipment can expose users to HIV and other viruses, such as hepatitis C.