Two-drug antiretroviral regimens for HIV

What you need to know: Antiretroviral therapy regimens containing two active drugs rather than the traditional three or more are efficacious in treating HIV. Two-drug regimens are a particularly useful option when tenofovir alafenamide, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, or abacavir cannot be used or are not optimal—for example, for people with high cardiovascular risk, renal impairment, or decreased bone mineral density. Many two-drug regimens can be used by people who are electively switching HIV treatment and have an undetectable viral load, and one regimen is licensed for people newly starting antiretroviral therapy. They are not suitable for people with HIV and hepatitis B co-infection, or in those with a history of HIV drug resistance or during pregnancy. One long acting injectable two-drug regimen is also available, but this may not be suitable in those with a high body mass index, certain viral subtypes, or with HIV drug resistance