A medicine or other substance that acts against retroviruses, particularly by interfering with the replication of viruses such as HIV.
Antiretroviral medicines target specific stages of the HIV life cycle, preventing the virus from making new copies of itself. Different antiretroviral drugs act on different viral proteins or processes, which is why HIV treatment generally uses combinations of medicines rather than relying on a single drug.
Antiretrovirals are the medicines used in antiretroviral therapy (ART). They can reduce HIV to very low levels in the blood, helping preserve immune function and reducing the risk of HIV-related disease and transmission.
QUICK FACT
“Antiretroviral” describes a type of medicine or its antiviral action; it does not refer to HIV itself. HIV is a retrovirus.
COMMONLY CONFUSED WITH
Antiviral: Antiviral is the broader term for medicines that act against viruses. Antiretroviral refers specifically to medicines that act against retroviruses, such as HIV.
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