Medicines from the three main classes of anti-HIV drugs (nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors or NRTIs; non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors or NNRTIs; and protease inhibitors) are available in forms that need to be taken just once a day. If you’re starting HIV treatment for the first time, then it’s likely that you will be able to choose from a number of once-daily combinations. There are some HIV treatments that consist of just one pill, once a day.

Even if you have taken a lot of HIV drugs in the past, it is possible that your doctor will be able to prescribe a combination for you which can be taken once daily. It’s reassuring to know that research has shown equally high levels of adherence in people taking once- and twice-daily treatment.

Some people have difficulty swallowing pills, taking large numbers of pills or remembering to take a number of doses a day. However, HIV treatment for most people consists of a few pills once or twice a day. If this is the case for you, choosing the simplest combination, with the fewest pills or doses, is likely to boost your chance of taking your treatment properly.

If you have a preference for either once- or twice-daily treatment, discuss this with your doctor.

The NAM booklet Anti-HIV drugs and the online tool My drugs chart provide information about the dosing requirements of each of the most commonly used anti-HIV drugs.

With some anti-HIV drugs, it doesn’t matter if they are taken with or without food. However, some HIV drugs need to be taken with food to be most effective.

It is recommended that the anti-HIV drug efavirenz (Sustiva, also in Atripla) is taken on an empty stomach.  

Some people find it difficult to take their HIV treatment on an empty stomach because this means not eating for a certain amount of time before or after taking their medicines. Other people prefer to not have to take their anti-HIV drugs with food because this reduces flexibility about the times they can eat meals. You may not want people you are eating meals with to see you taking your drugs (although you can usually take your drugs within a short period before or after eating if they need to be taken with food).

If you have a preference or concerns about food restrictions, it makes good sense to let your doctor know this so that you can be prescribed the most appropriate treatment.

Staff at your clinic will be able to offer advice on managing any food or drink requirements of your anti-HIV drugs. There’s information on the food requirements of HIV treatment in the NAM booklets Anti-HIV drugs and Nutrition, and in the online tool My drugs chart.