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Summary
| Last updated: 07.06.05 |
- Anti-HIV drugs prevent HIV from damaging your immune system, and so prevent ill health and prolong survival.
- The best time to begin anti-HIV drugs is not known. Decisions are guided by the CD4 count and viral load. It is currently recommended that treatment starts before the CD4 count falls below 200.
- Combinations of at least three anti-HIV drugs provide the best chance of reducing the amount of HIV in your blood to very low levels.
- Taking your anti-HIV drugs as prescribed is extremely important, as this will prolong the benefit you will get from them, and reduce the risk of resistance to the drugs developing.
- Tell a member of your HIV care team (doctor, nurse or pharmacist) if you are having problems with your anti-HIV drugs. Make sure that they know about any other medicines you are taking (including those bought from a chemist, herbal preparations and recreational drugs).
- Five classes of antiretroviral drugs are now available in the UK.