There’s no cure for HIV but it can be managed effectively with medication. That’s why you must stick to the regimen that your doctor establishes for you. However, knowing that something is good for you doesn’t always mean it’s easy to do it. Let’s look at everything you need to know about being treated for HIV.
HIV Treatment Options
Once you’ve been diagnosed with HIV, you’ll start what is known as anti-retroviral therapy (ART). The combination of drugs that you’ll need to take can vary. Still, your choices include non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), nucleoside or nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), protease inhibitors (PIs), integrase inhibitors, and entry or fusion inhibitors.
Generally, you’ll take pills but shots are available once you’ve satisfied the relevant criteria. These shots are long-acting and must be administered by your doctor monthly.
To qualify for the shots, however, you need to be virally suppressed or have an undetectable viral load for a minimum of three months. You also need a history of taking your medication as prescribed and no allergies to the ingredients in the shot.
Potential Side Effects
As with many medications, HIV treatment can have a few side effects. Some of these are nausea, dizziness, fatigue, vomiting, diarrhea, trouble sleeping, and dry mouth. If you get the shot, you may have some soreness at the injection site.
Certain side effects like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea can be managed with over-the-counter medication but you should talk to your doctor about your options for dealing with the others. Sometimes, the only way forward is to modify your drug combinations so you don’t have as many issues.
Additionally, you should always let your doctor know if your medications are making your day-to-day life difficult.
RELATED: Do You Know Your HIV/AIDS Status?
The Importance Of Consistency
Taking your medication consistently is the only way to bring your viral load down and keep it suppressed. This means that you won’t be able to pass the virus on to others and it won’t replicate unchecked in your system to ruin your health.
You’ll also reduce your risk of developing a strain of HIV that’s resistant to your medication. If you’re not sticking to your
