FAQ On HIV Treatment

HIV is an autoimmune virus that will multiply rapidly through the body and attack the immune system. It can cause a dangerous disease known as AIDS that can lead to serious and painful conditions as well as early death. Thankfully, HIV treatments have been created to help people avoid this serious health risk. A good HIV treatment follows a basic format and consists of a variety of medicines given out at appropriate times. Successful HIV treatment can help a person live for decades with this dangerous virus. The following questions are important to consider when deciding on an HIV treatment. They will help a person understand the nature of the treatment and how they can achieve a happy life when suffering from HIV and even AIDS infections.

Frequently Asked Questions ( 8 )   Add a Question

  1. How Is HIV Treated?
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    A large combination of medicines are used in conjunction with each other to prevent the spread of the HIV virus through the body. Treatment of this type is called antiretroviral therapy, otherwise known as ART. A typical HIV treatment is called an HIV regiment and it will consist of multiple types of medicines used to attack the HIV virus. In this way, a person can live with the disease without suffering from the serious consequences.
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  2. Is This A Cure For HIV?
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    There is no known cure for HIV at this point. ART is not considered a cure for this dangerous disease, but it is an effective way to restore a person to a happy and healthy life. Many people have lived with this disease for decades by using ART therapy, making it an approved and successful treatment method.

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  3. Does ART Prevent The Spread Of HIV?
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    ART can help reduce the risk of spreading HIV to other people through blood and sexual intercourse. It does so by reducing the level of HIV virus in a person's body. However, there is always a risk of transmission, even with the successful implementation of ART. Doctors suggest those with HIV avoid sexual activities whenever possible.
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  4. What Types of Medicines Are Used in a Treatment Regimen?
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    There are currently six approved types of medicines for an HIV regimen: non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), protease inhibitors (PIs), fusion inhibitors, CCR5 antagonists (CCR5s), and integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs). They make up 25 different medicines, many of which are combined into a single pill.

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  5. How Is A Regimen Created?
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    A doctor will weigh a person's case including the following factors: allergies, interactions between other medicines, other conditions that could be affected, side effects of the medicines, drug-resistance risks, and the cost of the regimen. An effective regimen must be followed exactly, so convenience is a major factor when choosing a regimen. For example, a good regimen will allow a person to take their medicines at times that are convenient for their life.
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  6. Are There Risks Involved With a Treatment Regimen?
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    As when taking any medicine, there are risks with an HIV regimen. The benefits of a successful regimen far outweigh the risks, but they should be discussed. For example, some medicines may interact negatively with an HIV regimen and poor adherence to the regimen will cause drug resistance and even complete treatment failure.

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  7. What About The Side Effects?
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    Side effects of a typical HIV regimen include headaches, dizziness, swelling of the mouth, confusion, nausea, and vomiting. These side effects aren't common or very serious. The types of side effects will vary depending on the person and the exact medicines taken, though, so it is important to talk to a doctor about these side effects first. Most serious side effects could occur, such as heart palpitations and other more severe problems.
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  8. How Effective Are These Treatments?
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    While many people die from HIV and AIDS-related complications every year, ART helps a larger number live a happy life. For example, basketball player Magic Johnson has famously lived for 24 years with HIV with the help of various forms of ART therapy. It will take a lot of careful adjustment of the treatment to achieve this success, though it can allow them to live a normal and stable life.
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