HIV & AIDS Health Center

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:

• Drug resistance.
• Higher viral loads.
• Disease progression.

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.

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) 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. HAART helps prevent HIV from multiplying and helps the immune system stay healthy.

Treatment with antiretroviral drugs is recommended:^{1, 2, 3}

• When your CD4+ cell count drops below 500, to help keep your immune system healthy and to prevent AIDS.
• If your CD4+ cell count is greater than 500, especially if you are at risk for other health problems.
• If you're pregnant. Medicines can help keep your unborn baby from getting HIV.
• If you have symptoms of HIV or AIDS, no matter what your CD4+ cell count is.
• If you also have hepatitis B, which is caused by a virus that attacks the liver.

You may also want to start HIV treatment if your sexual partner does not have HIV. Treatment of your HIV infection can help prevent the spread of HIV to your sexual partner.³

You should not start antiretroviral therapy until you have considered the benefits and risks of treatment and discussed all the issues with your doctor.

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.

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 HAART.

• 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 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 cannot afford them.
• Companies that make HIV medicine have programs to provide their medicine at a reduced cost for people who cannot afford them.

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.