HIV: Taking Antiretroviral Drugs
Introduction
Taking antiretroviral drugs for
HIV
will not cure your infection. But it may allow you
to stay healthy for a long time.
Your willingness and ability to
follow your antiretroviral therapy schedule exactly as prescribed is essential
for successful treatment of your HIV infection. Not following your prescribed
HIV therapy may cause treatment failures, such as:
In the past a person had to take many pills several times a
day, which was hard for some people. But over the past few years, this
routine has become much simpler, and people take their medicine only once or
twice a day. With the right knowledge and tools, you can successfully take your
medicine as prescribed.
Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is the use of three or more
antiretroviral drugs. It is the standard treatment for HIV infection.
Antiretroviral drugs attack the virus at different stages in its life cycle.
ART helps prevent HIV from multiplying and helps the
immune system
stay healthy.
Medical experts recommend that people begin treatment for HIV as soon as they know that they are infected.
1,
2
Treatment is especially important for pregnant women, people who have other infections (such as tuberculosis or hepatitis), and people who have symptoms of AIDS.
You may also want to start HIV treatment if your sex partner does not have HIV. Treatment of your HIV infection can help prevent the spread of HIV to your sex partner.
3
Before you start treatment, consider the
benefits and risks and discuss all the
issues with your doctor.
Test Your Knowledge
Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is the
use of three or more antiretroviral drugs to treat the HIV
infection.
-
True
This answer is correct.
In the treatment of HIV, antiretroviral therapy (ART) involves the use of three or more antiretroviral
drugs. ART is considered the standard of care for treating HIV
infection.
-
False
This answer is incorrect.
In the treatment of HIV, antiretroviral therapy (ART) involves the use of three or more antiretroviral
drugs. ART is considered the standard of care for treating HIV
infection.
There are several factors to consider when deciding to
start antiretroviral therapy.
-
True
This answer is correct.
You and your doctor will consider many factors
when deciding whether you should start antiretroviral therapy. Some of these
factors are:
- Whether you want to start
antiretroviral therapy now.
- How badly impaired your immune system
is and how rapidly it is declining.
- How likely it is that your
infection will progress to AIDS.
- Your thoughts about the possible
benefits and risks of antiretroviral therapy.
-
False
This answer is incorrect.
You and your doctor will consider many factors
when deciding whether you should start antiretroviral therapy. Some of these
factors are:
- Whether you want to start
antiretroviral therapy now.
- How badly impaired your immune system
is and how rapidly it is declining.
- How likely it is that your
infection will progress to AIDS.
- Your thoughts about the possible
benefits and risks of antiretroviral therapy.
My willingness and ability to take my medicine as
prescribed is not a factor in making the decision to start antiretroviral
therapy.
-
True
This answer is incorrect.
Your willingness and ability to take
your medicine as prescribed is an important factor in
determining whether you should start antiretroviral therapy. It is also
essential for successful treatment of your HIV infection. Some people find that
taking their medicine as prescribed by their doctor is challenging. Not
following your prescribed HIV therapy may cause treatment to fail, because
drug-resistant strains of HIV will produce higher viral loads and the disease
will progress.
-
False
This answer is correct.
Your willingness and ability to take
your medicine as prescribed is an important factor in
determining whether you should start antiretroviral therapy. It is also
essential for successful treatment of your HIV infection. Some people find that
taking their medicine as prescribed by their doctor is challenging. Not
following your prescribed HIV therapy may cause treatment to fail, because
drug-resistant strains of HIV will produce higher viral loads and the disease
will progress.
Continue to Why?
Complications may develop if you do not take your
antiretroviral therapy drugs exactly as prescribed.
- The antiretroviral therapy drugs will not
control the virus replication as effectively or protect the
immune system
.
-
Drug resistance is
more likely to occur. The virus that causes HIV can become resistant to
antiretroviral drugs used to treat the infection.
Test Your Knowledge
Drug resistance is more likely to occur if I do not
take my drugs exactly as prescribed.
-
True
This answer is correct.
Not following your prescribed antiretroviral
therapy may cause drug resistance. When this happens, the drug no longer
effectively controls virus replication or protects the immune system.
-
False
This answer is incorrect.
Not following your prescribed antiretroviral
therapy may cause drug resistance. When this happens,
the drug no longer effectively controls virus replication or protects the
immune system.
Not taking my antiretroviral drugs exactly as
prescribed will not change the effectiveness of the antiretroviral drug.
-
True
This answer is incorrect.
When antiretroviral drugs are not taken exactly
as prescribed, the effectiveness of the drug is decreased and drug resistance
is more likely to occur.
-
False
This answer is correct.
When antiretroviral drugs are not taken exactly
as prescribed, the effectiveness of the drug is decreased and drug resistance
is more likely to occur.
Continue to How?
In the past, a person had to take many pills several
times a day, which was hard for some people. But over the past few years
this routine has become much simpler. Now people take their medicine only once
or twice a day. With the right knowledge and tools, you can successfully take
your medicine as prescribed.
Work with your doctor when starting
ART.
-
Know the names of all of your drugs.
- Get a clear explanation of the actions and
purpose of each of your drugs. If you understand what you are taking and how it
is helping you, it may be easier to stay on your schedule.
- Write
down both the
brand name
and
generic name
for your drugs. Have your doctor check
the list.
-
Know when to take your medicine. Write down when to take your medicine, and have your doctor
check it. Get pictures of all of your drugs so you are sure you are taking the
right drug and the right dose at the right time. Be sure you understand how
much of each drug to take and when to take each one.
-
Know how to handle missed doses. Talk with your doctor about
what you should do if you accidentally miss a dose of a drug. Discuss what to
do for each drug—it may be different for each one.
-
Learn what other drugs to avoid. Some drugs can
cause a bad reaction or a decrease in effectiveness if they are taken with
antiretroviral drugs.
Keep the following in mind:
-
Store drugs properly.
Keeping drugs in a location that is too hot or too cold may decrease their
effectiveness. Find out from your doctor or pharmacist how to properly store
your drugs. Always store drugs out of the reach of children.
-
Watch for side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist what to
expect. Notify your doctor immediately if you have any serious side effects.
-
Avoid other drugs. Post your drugs-to-avoid
list in a place where you can refer to it whenever you need to. Always check
with your doctor before taking any additional drugs, prescription or
nonprescription. This includes any herbal or "natural" supplements.
-
Review your drug list. Review your list and
bring it with you each time you visit with your doctor. Tell your doctor about
any side effects you are having.
-
Communicate with your doctor. Notify your doctor immediately if you have any serious side
effects. Let your doctor know if you have any changes in your health that might
affect your condition, such as weight loss or another medical condition.
You may be able to reduce the costs of your antiretroviral
drugs and other drugs.
- Compare prices among several
drugstores.
- Consider using a mail-order or online drugstore.
- Every state has a program (called the Ryan White Care Act) that helps pay the cost of HIV medicines for people who can't afford them.
- Companies that make HIV medicine have programs to provide their medicine at a reduced cost for people who can't afford them.
Test Your Knowledge
I need to develop a drug plan with my doctor that
includes a list of all my drugs and their names, dosages, and when to take
them.
-
True
This answer is correct.
You need to develop a drug plan with your
doctor that includes a list of all your drugs and their names, dosages, and
schedules. You and your doctor can establish what drugs you need to take, their
dosages, and when to take them. You will also need to know what other drugs to
avoid.
-
False
This answer is incorrect.
You do need to develop a drug plan with your
doctor that includes a list of all your drugs and their names, dosages, and
schedules. You and your doctor can establish what drugs you need to take, their
dosages, and when to take them. You will also need to know what other drugs to
avoid.
Continue to Where?
Now that you have more
knowledge about your antiretroviral drugs and some tools to help you take them,
you are ready to develop your plan for taking your drugs correctly.
Work in partnership with your doctor
If you have
questions about this information, take it with you when you visit your doctor.
You may want to use a highlighter to mark areas or make notes in the margins of
the pages where you have questions.
Also be sure to discuss any
questions you have about your antiretroviral therapy schedule or if you are
having difficulty following your drug schedule.
Return to topic:
References
Citations
-
U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services Panel on Antiretroviral Guidelines for Adults and Adolescents (2012). Guidelines for the Use of Antiretroviral Agents
in HIV-1-Infected Adults and Adolescents
. Available online: http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/contentfiles/lvguidelines/adultandadolescentgl.pdf.
-
Thompson MA, et al. (2012). Antiretroviral treatment of adult HIV infection: 2012 recommendations of the International Antiviral Society—USA Panel. JAMA, 308(4): 387–402.
-
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Panel on Antiretroviral Guidelines for Adults and Adolescents (2011). Guidelines for the Use of Antiretroviral Agents in HIV-1-Infected Adults and Adolescents. Available online: http://www.aidsinfo.nih.gov/ContentFiles/AdultandAdolescentGL.pdf.
Credits
|
By
| Healthwise Staff |
|
Primary Medical Reviewer
| E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine |
|
Specialist Medical Reviewer
| Peter Shalit, MD, PhD - Internal Medicine |
|
Last Revised
| November 7, 2012 |
Last Revised:
November 7, 2012
U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services Panel on Antiretroviral Guidelines for Adults and Adolescents (2012). Guidelines for the Use of Antiretroviral Agents
in HIV-1-Infected Adults and Adolescents. Available online: http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/contentfiles/lvguidelines/adultandadolescentgl.pdf.
Thompson MA, et al. (2012). Antiretroviral treatment of adult HIV infection: 2012 recommendations of the International Antiviral Society—USA Panel. JAMA, 308(4): 387–402.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Panel on Antiretroviral Guidelines for Adults and Adolescents (2011). Guidelines for the Use of Antiretroviral Agents in HIV-1-Infected Adults and Adolescents. Available online: http://www.aidsinfo.nih.gov/ContentFiles/AdultandAdolescentGL.pdf.
