Compare HIV Meds: Find the Right Treatment for Your Needs

When you're managing HIV, a chronic viral infection that attacks the immune system. Also known as human immunodeficiency virus, it requires lifelong treatment with antiretroviral therapy, a combination of drugs that stop the virus from multiplying. There’s no cure yet—but today’s HIV meds can lower the virus to undetectable levels, protect your health, and prevent transmission. Choosing the right one isn’t about picking the most expensive or newest—it’s about what fits your body, lifestyle, and goals.

Not all HIV drugs work the same way. Some block the virus from entering cells, others stop it from copying its genetic material, and a few prevent it from assembling new copies. Common classes include NNRTIs, non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors like efavirenz, PIs, protease inhibitors like darunavir, and INSTIs, integrase strand transfer inhibitors like dolutegravir. Each has different side effects: some cause dizziness or trouble sleeping, others affect the liver or kidneys. Some need to be taken with food, others don’t. Some come in single-pill combos, making daily routines simpler. The best HIV treatment for you isn’t the one that works for someone else—it’s the one you can stick with.

Cost matters too. Generic versions of older drugs like tenofovir and lamivudine are cheap and effective. Newer drugs like bictegravir or cabotegravir injections might cost more but offer monthly dosing instead of daily pills. Insurance, location, and patient assistance programs can change what’s affordable. And if you’ve had side effects before or are on other meds for high blood pressure, diabetes, or depression, your doctor needs to check for interactions. You’re not just picking a pill—you’re building a long-term plan.

Below, you’ll find real comparisons of HIV medications, their pros and cons, how they stack up against each other, and what to watch out for. These aren’t ads or sponsored lists—they’re clear, practical breakdowns based on how these drugs actually perform in daily use. Whether you’re newly diagnosed, switching treatments, or just trying to understand your options, this collection gives you the facts you need to talk smarter with your provider.