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The first drug treatment for HIV licensed in the US was zidovudine (AZT), a reverse transcriptase inhibitor. However, AZT has now been completely replaced by HAART as the recommended treatment for HIV-infected individuals. The use of HAART, rather than AZT, is preferred because:

User Maplemaple
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Final answer:

HAART, which is a combination of several antiretroviral drugs, is preferred over AZT for HIV treatment because of its effectiveness in suppressing HIV replication and reducing the risk of opportunistic infections

Step-by-step explanation:

The use of HAART (Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy), rather than zidovudine (AZT), is now the preferred treatment for HIV because it is more effective in managing the disease. HAART is a combination of several antiretroviral drugs, which when taken together, are more effective in suppressing HIV replication than AZT alone. This helps to significantly reduce the likelihood of the virus developing resistance. Additionally, HAART is associated with a reduced risk of opportunistic infections, which are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in HIV-infected individuals.

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User Ali Akbarpour
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