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Taking antiretroviral drugs for HIV infection
IntroductionTaking antiretroviral drugs for HIV will not cure your infection. However, it may allow you to remain 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 difficult for some people. However, over the past few years this routine has become much simpler and many people take their medicine only once or twice a day. With the right knowledge and tools, you can successfully take your medicine as prescribed.
Return to topic: What is antiretroviral therapy?Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is the use of 3 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 usually offered when:
You should not start antiretroviral therapy until you have considered the benefits and risks of treatment and discussed all the issues with your doctor. Test Your Knowledge
Continue to Why is it important to take antiretroviral therapy drugs exactly as prescribed?Complications may develop if you do not take your antiretroviral therapy drugs exactly as prescribed.
Test Your Knowledge Continue to How can I take my antiretroviral therapy drugs as prescribed?In the past, a person had to take many pills several times a day, which was difficult for some people. But over the past few years this routine has become much simpler, and many 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.
Keep the following in mind:
You may be able to reduce the costs of your antiretroviral drugs and other drugs.
Test Your Knowledge Continue to Where to go from hereNow that you have more knowledge about your antiretroviral drugs and some tools to help you take them, you are ready to develop your system for taking your drugs correctly. Work in partnership with your doctorIf 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 Credits
True This answer is correct. In the treatment of HIV, highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) involves the use of 3 or more antiretroviral drugs. HAART is considered the standard of care for treating HIV infection. False This answer is incorrect. In the treatment of HIV, highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) involves the use of 3 or more antiretroviral drugs. HAART is considered the standard of care for treating HIV infection. 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:
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:
True This answer is incorrect. Your willingness and ability to follow 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 follow 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. 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. 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. 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.
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