You will get a prescription for your HIV treatment, when you attend your regular HIV clinic appointment, which you take to either the specialist HIV pharmacy (in larger clinics) or to the hospital’s outpatient pharmacy. A high-street chemist will not usually dispense anti-HIV drugs, unless your clinic has an agreement with a particular chemist.

You should be given supplies to last until your next clinic appointment. Once you are stable on HIV treatment, with an undetectable viral load, you may be able to arrange with your clinic to have your HIV treatment delivered to you (see our factsheet for more information on ‘home’ delivery, sometimes also called local delivery). You will still need to attend regular HIV clinic appointments to have your health monitored. Always make sure you have enough medication to last until your next clinic appointment. If you think you might run out before this, contact your clinic as soon as possible to arrange a further supply.

The pharmacist will ask you if you are allergic to any medicines and explain how to take the drugs that have been prescribed to you. Pharmacists can help you with managing your medication use, including adherence, side-effects, drug interactions, food and drink requirements, storage, pill swallowing, and advice on taking your medicines while travelling.