Regimen names

Clinical description

• Table 16 on page 68 shows the standard ART regimens for Malawi.
• ART regimens and formulations are numbered and coded to ease M&E and supply management:

o Old regimens that are no longer used are omitted from Table 16. This explains the gaps in the number sequence.

o Most PI- and INSTI-based regimens may be used as 1st or 2nd line. It is therefore no longer possible to distinguish 1st and 2nd line regimens without knowing the patient’s regimen history.

o Regimen 13 is the standard 1st line regimen for men and women weighing 30+ kg.

o The 3 remaining NNRTI-based regimens are only used as alternative 1st line (Regimen 4, 5 and 17).

o Regimen 12 is the standard 3rd line regimen.

Understanding ART regimens and formulations 65 o ART regimen formulation codes

• “A” is added to the regimen number for adult formulations (e.g., Regimen 13A)
• “P” is added for paediatric formulations (e.g. Regimen 9P).
• “PP” is added for regimens that are made up of 2 separate tablets when both tablets

are paediatric formulations. For example, Regimen 15PP contains ABC 120mg/3TC60mg (paediatric) + DTG 10mg (paediatric).

• “PA” is added for regimens that are made up of 2 separate tablets when one is

paediatric and the other is adult formulation. For example, Regimen 15PA contains ABC 120mg/3TC60mg (paediatric) + DTG 50mg (adult).

• Fixed dose combinations (FDC) are shown with a slash (e.g., TDF / 3TC / DTG).
• Combinations made up of separate tablets are shown with + (e.g., AZT/3TC + EFV).
• 3TC (Lamivudine) is the backbone in ALL 1st and 2nd line regimens because it is extremely well

tolerated and remains effective even when drug-resistant HIV is present.