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Antiretroviral therapy-answers to commonly asked questions
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Medications are an important factor in HIV survival
Did you know…
That the death rate in Washington State has decreased almost 80% due to the use of antiretroviral medications!
What is Antiretroviral Therapy? Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is the use of at least three different medications known as antiretroviral drugs (ARV) in order to suppress the replication of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Treatment with these combinations of drugs is also known as Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART). ART is not a cure, but successful use of these medications inhibits the replication of the virus, thereby slowing down the disease process, improving immunity and delaying death.
What are antiretroviral drugs (ARV)? There are currently sixes classes of antiretroviral agents. Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, protease inhibitors, fusion inhibitors, and chemokine receptor antagonists. Each class of drugs targets a different step in the viral cell cycle.
What are the side effects of antiretroviral therapy? The side effects vary depending on a number of factors. The most common side effects are diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Lipodystrophy is another common side effect of HAART treatment. This is when fat is redistributed to other parts of the body. Often in this condition, face and limbs become thin while one's breasts, stomach and/or neck enlarge. There could also be some changes in one’s liver enzymes and glucose level, as well as other laboratory abnormalities. The new HIV medications have fewer side effects than those in the past.
Do these medications work? HAART has increased the mean survival time in the AIDS stage by up to more than 10 years.
When do I start taking medications? The decision of when to start and which medications to take are on an individual basis and your doctor will help you get started. There are some standard guidelines for initiating therapy that state that patients with an AIDS-defining illness or with CD4 counts of less than 350, pregnant women with HIV infections, patients with HIV-associated nephropathy, and patients with HIV and Hep B infection should all begin therapy.
Are there programs in Seattle that can help me with my medication regime? Yes. There are many services in Seattle to help. One in particular is called STEP. STEP helps their clients remain compliant with their medications. If you have any questions regarding HIV medications, if you currently take medications and are having problems remembering to take the meds, if they are making you sick, or if you can’t afford them, contact STEP for help.
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