What to use next? The Basics of Switching HIV Treatment
The Basics of Switching HIV Treatment
"When switching due to virological failure, resistance tests can show which drugs are not working and which alternative antiretrovirals are likely to work best. Switching treatment is more challenging for people who have already used many drugs and have developed resistance to multiple medications (known as multidrug-resistant HIV).
Ideally, a new regimen should contain at least two, preferably three, fully active drugs, but this is not always possible. Some people may be able to add novel antiretrovirals that work in different ways, such as the monoclonal antibody entry inhibitor Trogarzo (ibalizumab) or the twice-yearly injectable capsid inhibitor Sunlenca (lenacapavir). Another option is joining a clinical trial, but currently, there are few experimental antiretrovirals in the pipeline.
Modern antiretrovirals are more potent, better tolerated, less likely to lead to drug resistance and more convenient than older meds. With the newest drugs, even people who have been living with HIV for years and have highly resistant virus can usually find a regimen that keeps their HIV in check."