Treatment

There has been, and continues to be, lots of research into possible cures.

Current treatment means that many people with HIV are living long and healthy lives, but it does not cure HIV.

Treatment for HIV involves taking a combination of anti-HIV (antiretroviral) drugs. This treatment has a very powerful anti-HIV effect and stops the virus from reproducing.

This allows the immune system to strengthen and fight infections effectively.

To get the most benefit from your HIV treatment, you need to take it as prescribed, every day. This is often called ‘adherence’.

HIV treatment involves taking anti-HIV drugs every day. These drugs do not cure HIV, but they can stop HIV from reproducing. This allows the immune system to stay strong.

There are now more than 20 of these drugs, although they are not all available everywhere in the world. HIV is normally treated with a combination of three different drugs, some of which might be combined into one pill. Most HIV treatment combinations are taken once or twice daily. This treatment has a very powerful anti-HIV effect. Thanks to HIV treatment, many people with the virus can live a long and healthy life.

If you are prescribed HIV treatment, you should aim to take all the doses. Missing just a few doses a month can mean that your treatment doesn’t work properly, and your HIV may become resistant to the drugs that you are taking.

Anti-HIV drugs can interact with other some other prescribed drugs, medications you can buy from a pharmacy, herbal remedies and illegal or recreational drugs. To reduce the risk of interactions, it’s important to tell your HIV doctor or pharmacist about any other medicines or drugs you are taking.

You should be monitored regularly to see if your treatment is working. If you do encounter a problem with your treatment, it should be possible to do something about it.

Medical care for HIV happens in a wide range of hospital and other medical settings, depending on where you are in the world.

The best treatment and care for HIV is often at specialist HIV clinics.

In the UK, these are provided by the National Health Service (NHS). The treatment and care provided by these clinics will be free, whatever your financial situation or immigration status. You can choose where you receive your HIV care – you don’t have to go to your local hospital.

In many parts of the world, most of the care given to people with HIV happens at home. It is provided by family and friends, perhaps with some help from an organisation that provides home-based care.

You can use the e-atlas on this website to find treatment centres and other HIV services near where you are.

There’s a lot you can do to look after your physical and mental health and general wellbeing.

Leading a healthy lifestyle is a good start. This includes getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, exercising, not smoking, only drinking sensible amounts of alcohol, and avoiding or moderating drug use.

Attending your clinic appointments and taking your HIV treatment as prescribed is a very important part of staying well.

It’s also important to look after your mental health and emotional wellbeing. Depression and anxiety are common issues, and acknowledging how you feel and finding support to deal with concerns or mental health issues should not be overlooked.   

Living with HIV can be hard at times, and most people need the help of others from time to time. Don’t be frightened or embarrassed to ask for help.

All medicines can cause side-effects, and this includes those used to treat HIV. The early treatments developed for HIV had some serious side-effects, and people sometimes worry that starting HIV treatment will make them unwell. However, although they can still cause side-effects, modern HIV treatment is much easier to take.

Common side-effects you might have when you first start a treatment are diarrhoea, feeling or being sick, and headache. Some drugs can also cause problems sleeping.

Most people find that these side-effects lessen or go away completely after a couple of weeks.

A few anti-HIV drugs can cause an allergic reaction. You should be screened for any risk factors, and warned about possible symptoms. If you do then have any of the symptoms of an allergic reaction, you should seek medical advice immediately. Contact your HIV clinic or Accident & Emergency at your local hospital if your HIV clinic is closed.

Longer-term side-effects can involve increased levels in blood fats and sugars, changes in kidney or liver function, or thinning of the bones. You’ll be monitored to see if you develop early signs of any of these side-effects.

It’s worth remembering that you don’t have to just put up with side-effects. Talk to a member of your healthcare team about any side-effects you experience as it may be possible to do something about them.

The sooner you start to take HIV treatment, the sooner you can benefit from it. HIV treatment guidelines, both in the UK and elsewhere in the world, now recommend that all people with HIV should take HIV treatment.

Research shows that people who start treatment earlier are less likely to get ill or to pass HIV on to other people.

While the medical case for starting treatment as soon as possible is clear cut, the decision to start treatment rests with the person living with HIV. Before starting treatment, it’s important that you understand how it works and what it involves. You may need a little time before you feel ready to start.

You can use our online tool, Get set for HIV treatment, to help you decide if you are ready to start treatment.

If you don’t understand something, or if you want to know more about any subject, ask your doctor! Or there may be another member of your healthcare team who can help with a particular issue.

You should feel able to ask questions or tell your doctor, or another healthcare worker, about things that are bothering you. This will be important in staying as well as possible and increasing the chances of any treatment being successful.

It can help to spend a little time preparing for an appointment, so that you have considered what you might want to tell your doctor, or questions you might want to ask. Our online tool, Talking points, can help you prepare for an appointment with your doctor.