HIV treatment can be very effective. It can mean a much longer and healthier life - research published in summer 2008 suggested that people with HIV can now expect to live into their 70s.

HIV treatment can cause side-effects. The risk of side-effects might be something you consider when deciding whether or not to take a certain treatment. It's worth remembering, however, that the benefits of HIV treatment are such that they outweigh the risk of side-effects.  It's also worth remembering that side-effects are often mild or pass over time, or can be avoided or controlled with other drugs - in many cases the fear of side-effects is much worse than the reality.

If you have decided it is worthwhile taking a treatment and you do develop side-effects, it’s important to establish which drug is causing the problem. This can be quite tricky if you are taking anti-HIV medication, as more than one of the drugs might have the potential to cause the side-effects you are experiencing.

Talk about problems you are experiencing with side-effects with your doctor. Don’t stop taking treatments without seeking medical advice.

Taking other medicines, such as painkillers, or anti-sickness or anti-nausea medication, can help control side-effects.

If it’s known that a particular anti-HIV drug is causing side-effects, then there’s a good chance, particularly if you’ve never taken anti-HIV drugs before, that you will be able to switch to a drug that doesn’t cause the side-effects you are experiencing.