Viread is a medication that is often prescribed as part of an HIV "cocktail" for the treatment of HIV and AIDS. It is the first and only medicine from a class of HIV drugs known as nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors. Viread comes in tablet form and is generally taken once a day. Potential side effects include diarrhea, nausea, headache, and weakness.
Viread
® (
tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) is a prescription medication used as a
treatment for HIV and
AIDS. It is approved for use only in combination with other
HIV medications.
Viread is made by Gilead Sciences, Inc.
Viread is currently the only medication in a class of HIV medications known as nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NtRTIs). It is similar to medications in another class, nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). Viread works by blocking a process that the HIV virus needs in order to multiply.
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is the virus that causes AIDS. Like other viruses, it must use a person's own cells to reproduce. However, HIV is a little different from other viruses because it must first convert its genetic material from RNA to DNA. It is the DNA that allows HIV to multiply.
HIV converts its genetic material by using a special protein called the reverse transcriptase enzyme. To create DNA, this enzyme uses several different protein building-blocks.
Viread works by tricking reverse transcriptase into thinking it is one of these protein building-blocks. However, it is just different enough that when used to create DNA, Viread actually stops the DNA from being made. Without DNA, HIV cannot multiply. Viread is not a cure for HIV or AIDS, however. It can help stop HIV from infecting healthy cells in the body, but it does not help cells that have already been infected with the virus.
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