The original patents for many anti-HIV medications have expired and generic versions of them are available. This means that different versions of the same anti-HIV drug are produced by different manufacturers.
Generic medicines may have a different colour, shape, size and packaging, but contain the same active ingredient as the branded version. The generic name (the name of the active ingredient) will stay the same. There’s more information about generics on another page.
Because of legal differences, the medications that are available as generics varies from country to country. The following anti-HIV medications are available as generics in the United Kingdom. Most need to be taken in combination with other antiretroviral drugs.
- Abacavir (also known as Ziagen).
- Lamivudine (also known as Epivir).
- Abacavir/lamivudine (also known as Kivexa or Epzicom).
- Lamivudine/zidovudine (also known as Combivir).
- Zidovudine (also known as Retrovir).
- Tenofovir disoproxil (also known as Viread).
- Emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil (also known as Truvada).
- Efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil (also known as Atripla). This is a single-tablet regimen, taken once a day.
- Efavirenz (also known as Sustiva).
- Nevirapine also known as Viramune).
- Atazanavir (also known as Reyataz).
- Darunavir (also known as Prezista).
- Lopinavir/ritonavir (also known as Kaletra).
- Ritonavir (also known as Norvir).
In the United States, the following generic anti-HIV medications are available. All need to be taken in combination with other antiretroviral drugs.
- Abacavir (also known as Ziagen).
- Lamivudine (also known as Epivir).
- Abacavir/lamivudine (also known as Epzicom or Kivexa).
- Lamivudine/zidovudine (also known as Combivir).
- Zidovudine (also known as Retrovir).
- Tenofovir disoproxil (also known as Viread).
- Efavirenz (also known as Sustiva).
- Nevirapine (also known as Viramune).
- Atazanavir (also known as Reyataz).
- Ritonavir (also known as Norvir).
In addition, the following anti-HIV medications are available in the US. Strictly speaking, they are not generics, but each one is a combination of component drugs that were previously developed by other manufacturers. Their prices may be lower than those of other branded medications.
- Lamivudine/tenofovir disoproxil (also known as Cimduo or Temixys). This needs to be taken in combination with other antiretroviral drugs.
- Efavirenz/lamivudine/tenofovir disoproxil (also known as Symfi or Symfi Lo). This is a single-tablet regimen, taken once a day.