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Summary

  • Combination HIV treatment prevents HIV from damaging your immune system, and so prevents ill health and prolongs lives.
  • Everyone who has diagnosed HIV is recommended to take HIV treatment. It is better for your health to begin HIV treatment sooner, rather than later.
  • Combinations of at least three anti-HIV drugs provide the best chance of reducing the amount of HIV in your blood to very low levels (an undetectable viral load).
  • Taking your anti-HIV drugs as prescribed is extremely important, as this will prolong the benefit you will get from them, and reduce the risk of resistance to the drugs developing.
  • Tell a member of your HIV healthcare team (doctor, nurse or pharmacist) if you are having problems, including side-effects, with your anti-HIV drugs. Make sure they know about any other medicines you are taking (including those bought from a chemist, herbal preparations and recreational drugs).

Anti-HIV drugs

Published June 2018

Last reviewed June 2018

Next review June 2021

Contact NAM to find out more about the scientific research and information used to produce this booklet.

This content was checked for accuracy at the time it was written. It may have been superseded by more recent developments. NAM recommends checking whether this is the most current information when making decisions that may affect your health.
Community Consensus Statement on Access to HIV Treatment and its Use for Prevention

Together, we can make it happen

We can end HIV soon if people have equal access to HIV drugs as treatment and as PrEP, and have free choice over whether to take them.

Launched today, the Community Consensus Statement is a basic set of principles aimed at making sure that happens.

The Community Consensus Statement is a joint initiative of AVAC, EATG, MSMGF, GNP+, HIV i-Base, the International HIV/AIDS Alliance, ITPC and NAM/aidsmap
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This content was checked for accuracy at the time it was written. It may have been superseded by more recent developments. NAM recommends checking whether this is the most current information when making decisions that may affect your health.

NAM’s information is intended to support, rather than replace, consultation with a healthcare professional. Talk to your doctor or another member of your healthcare team for advice tailored to your situation.