Protease inhibitor

Protease inhibitor (pronunciation: proh-tee-ace in-hib-it-or) is a type of medication that is primarily used in the treatment of HIV and hepatitis C. Protease inhibitors prevent viral replication by inhibiting the activity of protease, an enzyme used by HIV and hepatitis C to reproduce in the body.

Etymology

The term "protease inhibitor" is derived from the words "protease", a type of enzyme that breaks down proteins, and "inhibitor", which refers to a substance that reduces or stops the activity of another substance.

Types of Protease Inhibitors

There are several types of protease inhibitors, including:

• Ritonavir
• Indinavir
• Saquinavir
• Nelfinavir
• Amprenavir
• Lopinavir

Each of these medications works by blocking the action of protease, thus preventing the virus from replicating.

Side Effects

Like all medications, protease inhibitors can cause side effects. Some of the most common side effects include:

• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Rash
• Fatigue

Related Terms

• Antiretroviral therapy
• Viral replication
• Enzyme

See Also

• HIV/AIDS
• Hepatitis C
• Antiviral drug

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Protease inhibitor
• Wikipedia's article - Protease inhibitor

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