Antiretrovirals are a broad class of pharmaceuticals used in the treatment of retroviruses. The most commonly treated retrovirus is HIV, the infectious agent that causes AIDS. Most patients are treated with a mix of antiretroviral drugs. The best known of this class of drugs is AZT.
Antiretrovirals have a long list of side effects including abdominal pain, anemia, diarrhea, headache, insomnia, interference with liver function, migraines, mood swings, nausea, nightmares, pancreatitis, and vomiting.