Is Generic Atripla cure HIV and does this drug available OTC?

I am curious to know more about HIV treatment and how the medicines help people to survive. I want to understand does Generic Atripla work to cure HIV? If not then what exactly this drug does? I also want to know if there are numerous HIV patients, then why it is not available OTC.

Reply 1

artful_lounger

Universities Forum Helper

Scanning the Wikipedia page for it, it looks like it's used to treat, not cure, HIV.

Also lots of drugs are available in generic varieties but not available OTC - most antidepressants for example. Obviously the MHRA has determined it requires a doctor prescribe it rather than be available OTC.

Reply 2

1582

Volunteer Section Leader, Clearing and Applications Advisor

HIV isn't curable. Antiretroviral drugs work to suppress multiplication of the virus, in order to manage it, but they can't completely get rid of it. Some HIV cells will always be there and if treatment stops they will start to replicate again.

These medications are typically taken in combination with other antiretroviral drugs of different classes (they do different things!) and they aren't all appropriate for everyone to take. A GP needs to prescribe something appropriate for that patient.