Antiretroviral therapy
Although there is as yet no cure for HIV infection, you can control it with HIV treatment which involves antiretroviral therapy. Antiretroviral therapy involves a combination of antiretroviral drugs which attack HIV at different stages of its life cycle, and hence stop the virus from replicating in the body and keeps the immune system healthy.
Early HIV treatment with antiretroviral drugs effectively prevents progression to AIDS and other complications. Lifelong antiretroviral treatment is indicated for all people with HIV, and the treatment remarkably improves their health and possibility of survival. Antiretroviral therapy is very effective and easy to take. With combination drugs, taking the daily medications has become a lot more convenient than before. It often involves only one to four pills a day. People under an HIV treatment can live a healthy and productive life.
Antiretroviral therapy helps you in the following ways
(1) Reduces the amount of HIV in the blood (viral load) and keeps your immune system healthy
Antiretroviral therapy can reduce the viral load (the number of virus in human blood). When most people infected with HIV is taking antiretroviral therapy around or within 6 months, the viral load becomes so low that it is undetectable. Most people can get the virus under control within six months. This also increase the number of CD4 cells which helps maintain the immune system, as well as contribute to fewer opportunistic infections and HIV-associated cancers. This stops symptoms and allows people to live a full and healthy life.
(2) Prevents transmission to your partners
If you have an undetectable viral load, you will not transmit HIV through sex.
Tips on taking the antiretroviral therapy
Antiretroviral therapy can improve the immune function of the infected person and so it is important to strictly adhere to the drug regimen. Poor drug adherence, missing doses or taking even short "drug holidays" give the virus the opportunity to mutate and multiply, lead to drug resistance, rendering the antiretroviral drugs no longer effective.
Discuss with the health care providers if you encounter unpleasant side effects, most of the side effects are usually transient and mild. The most common side effects are nausea, diarrhoea and gastrointestinal upset.
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Know of the right dosage, frequency and ways of taking each drug;
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Try to fit drug regime with some of daily activities;
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Set an alarm to remind you the time to take the drugs;
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Put some of the drugs in the places you usually go;
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Bring a bottle of water for taking drugs;
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Use a pill box;
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Seek help from health care providers to work out a most suitable drug schedule.