Which drugs are commonly used in post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for HIV?

AIIMS CRE 2025

Pharmacology

Easy

Appeared in: AIIMS CRE 2025

Explanation

Zidovudine and Lamivudine are both Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTIs), a class of antiretroviral drugs.
NRTIs work by blocking the reverse transcriptase enzyme, which is essential for the HIV virus to convert its RNA into DNA and replicate within the host's cells.
The combination of two NRTIs forms the backbone of many PEP regimens. The NACO 2021 guidelines list Zidovudine + Lamivudine as a component of PEP for specific populations (e.g., children).
Initiating this combination promptly after exposure can significantly reduce the risk of establishing a permanent HIV infection.

Option B: Acyclovir is an antiviral drug, but its spectrum of activity is against herpesviruses (like Herpes Simplex and Varicella-Zoster), not the HIV retrovirus.
Option C: Doxycycline is a tetracycline antibiotic. Antibiotics are effective against bacterial infections, not viral infections like HIV.
Option D: Chloroquine is an antiprotozoal drug used to prevent and treat malaria. It has no activity against HIV.

Visual 1: Flowchart: Step-by-step protocol for managing occupational needlestick injury, from immediate first aid to PEP initiation and follow-up.
Visual 2: Diagram: The HIV life cycle, illustrating the points of action for different antiretroviral drug classes (NRTIs, Protease Inhibitors, Integrase Inhibitors).

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Pharmacotherapy for HIV Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses must be able to act swiftly and correctly following an occupational exposure like a needlestick injury. This includes immediate first aid, prompt reporting, and seeking evaluation for PEP within the critical 72-hour window.
Patient education is a key nursing role. When a patient is prescribed PEP, the nurse must counsel them on the critical importance of adherence to the full 28-day regimen to ensure its effectiveness.
Nurses monitor for and manage the side effects of antiretroviral drugs, which can include nausea, fatigue, and headache, to support the patient in completing the treatment course.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core of the question: it's asking for drugs used for HIV prophylaxis after exposure (PEP).
Scan the options. The question involves drug combinations. Your goal is to identify the combination that contains appropriate antiretroviral agents for HIV.
Evaluate each drug in the options. Recall or deduce the drug class for each medication.
Zidovudine and Lamivudine are known antiretrovirals (NRTIs).
Acyclovir is for herpes. Doxycycline is an antibiotic. Chloroquine is for malaria.
Eliminate the options containing drugs that are not used for HIV. Options B, C, and D all contain a drug that is incorrect for this purpose.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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