Key points
- Thanks to antiretroviral treatment, many people with HIV now have a normal life expectancy.
- You’ll get the most benefit from your treatment if you take it at the right time and in the right way. This is often called adherence.
- Missing doses or not taking doses correctly can lead to your HIV becoming drug resistant.
- Everyone taking HIV treatment should be offered support and advice with adherence.
- Keeping a diary, using a pill box, or setting an alarm, might help you to take your treatment.
- Resistance tests will be used to help choose the best drug combination for you.
This booklet provides basic information about how HIV treatment works, what taking it involves and how to manage it in your life.
You’ll get the most benefit from your treatment if you take each dose at the right time, in the right way (often described as ‘adherence’). The booklet gives some advice to help you to do this and explains what can happen if doses are missed, including drug resistance.
This booklet is not intended to replace discussion with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. But it can be a starting point for those discussions.
Download the booklet
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Taking you HIV treatment
Basic information
How treatment works
Taking drugs on time
HIV and the immune system
What should I do if I throw up after taking my HIV meds?
If I change HIV treatment and find that I don’t like my new meds, can I go back to the old ones?
How long will it take for HIV to develop resistance to my medications?
A to Z of antiretroviral medications
Antiretroviral drug chart
Blood tests before starting or changing HIV treatment
Starting HIV treatment
Adherence to HIV treatment
Side-effects of HIV treatment
Allergic reactions to HIV medications
Food requirements for anti-HIV medications
Interactions between HIV medication and recreational drugs
What happens to HIV drugs in the body, and do missed doses matter?
HIV treatment breaks
