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What is HIV therapy?

Drugs given to treat HIV are also called antiretrovirals. To ensure that antiretrovirals have a powerful and long-lasting effect against HIV, it is necessary to take a combination of three (sometimes more) anti-HIV drugs.

Currently available anti-HIV therapy does not eliminate the virus from the body. Instead, it can prolong life and good health by suppressing HIV replication and therefore reducing the harmful effects of HIV on the immune system.

 

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 It may have been superseded by more recent developments.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.