HOW IS HIV TREATED?
* Be aware that the recommended treatments of illnesses are always being improved. This website was last update on 11/1/2024. The best treatment option MIGHT have changed since that time.
HIV is usually treated with a combination of Anti-viral medications. Oftentimes 2 or 3 medications z
are contained in the same pill:
1. Dolutegravir plus Abacavir plus Lamivudine *
2. Bictegravir-Tenofovir Alafenamide-Emtricitabine *
3. Ritonavir-boosted Darunavir plus Tenofovir and either Emtricitabine or Lamivudine
4. Atripla (efavirenz + tenofovir + emtricitabine) .
Caution: Dizziness, diarrhea and tiredness are common side effects. Serious, life-threatening side effects are also possible, such as liver problems and a buildup of lactic acid in the blood.
2. Complera (rilpivirine + tenofovir + emtricitabine) The usual dose is once daily with a meal.
Caution: Strange dreams, trouble sleeping, depressed mood, headache, and digestive problems are common. Serious liver problems and lactic acid buildup in the blood can occur.
3. Genvoya, Stribild (elvitegravir + cobicistat + tenofovir + emtricitabine). You usually take it once a day with food.
Caution: Headache, nausea, and diarrhea are common side effects. Like Atripla and Complera, serious liver problems and lactic acid buildup in the blood are possible.
4. Isentress (raltegravir) Take twice a day.
Nausea, headache, dizziness and fatigue are common side effects. Although rare, muscle breakdown leading to kidney failure may occur.
5. Norvir (ritonavir) take twice daily with meals.
Caution: Digestive side effects are common, as are headache and burning or tingling sensations. Norvir can also cause serious side effects and drug interactions. Tell your doctor and your pharmacist about all of your medications.
6. Prezista (darunavir) Usually taken with ritonavir either once or twice a day. Ritonavir acts as a pharmacokinetic booster.
CAUTION: Digestive problems, headache, and changes in body fat are common side effects. Severe skin reactions and liver problems are also possible.
7. Tivicay (dolutegravir) Take once or twice a day.
CAUTION: Headache, fatigue, sleep problems, and changes in body fat are common side effects. Serious liver problems are also possible.
8. Triumeq (dolutegravir + abacavir + lamivudine)
CAUTION: The usual dose is once daily. Headache, fatigue, sleep problems, and changes in body fat are common side effects. It is also possible to have serious side effects, including a serious allergic reaction, liver problems, and a buildup of lactic acid in the blood.
9. Truvada (emtricitabine + tenofovir). The usual dose is once daily.
CAUTION: Abnormal dreams, trouble sleeping, depressed mood, headache, and dizziness are common side effects. Like other NRTI combinations, liver problems and lactic acidosis buildup in the blood is also possible.
10. Vemlidy, Viread (tenofovir) Usually take once a day.
CAUTION: Digestive problems, fatigue, headache, depressed mood, sleep problems, and changes in body fat are common side effects. Like other NRTIs, serious side effects are possible, including liver problems and lactic acid buildup in the blood.
CAUTION:
1. All medication, including medications those that are anti-HIV medications, have a risk of side effects. Most anti-HIV medications have a risk of decreasing either kidney or liver function.
2. Mild side effects are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, itching, and light skin rash.
3. Possible Severe side effects are a severe skin rash, an anaphylactic allergic reaction (leading to the inability to breathe and subsequent death if not treated rapidly), and Clostridioides difficile infection (C. Diff.) of the colon.
4. Medications such as creams, lotions, and gels should be tested in small dosages in areas of the body that are not easily seen.
Consult “Epocrates.com” for each Specific Medication’s possible “Adverse Reactions.” Side effects are also referred to as “Adverse Reactions.” Epocrates.com will tell you both “common reactions” and “serious reactions.” You will have to create an account, but it is simple, fast, and free.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF HIV (HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS)?
The symptoms of HIV vary widely. They vary from none to dying miserably. Sometimes when they a person is infected they have no
symptoms. At other times a person may have symptoms similar to a common cold: fever, fatigue, sore throat, achey body, and swollen lymph nodes.
As time proceeds, some people may continue to have no symptoms while others begin to have a variety of mild symptoms. These mild symptoms
consist of things such as swollen lymph nodes in a variety of areas of the bodies (such as the neck, under the arms, and in the
groin areas), white areas on the sides of the tongue, and blood changes. Without treatment most people infected with HIV
will continue to have more serious symptoms. These symptoms continue to get progressively worse and include intractible diarrhea,
difficulty breathing, dementia, and a variety of type of cancers, which lead to death.
WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF HIV (HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS)?
The cause of HIV is a virus called the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. This virus slowly attacks an infected person’s bodies immune system. At the beginning of the infection there is often very little change in the bodies outward appearance. HIV is usually spread through sexual contact—or intravenous drug use. This include rectal sex, vaginal sex, and oral sex (sex involving the mouth).
HOW IS HIV INFECTION DIAGNOSED?
HIV is diagnosed by a blood test to determine if a person has been infected with HIV. Currently the recommended test is the fourth generation ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). This test is the most desirable because it test two different types of HIV (HIV-1 and HIV-2 ) as well as the p24 HIV antigen. If this is positive then additional test are needed such as: CD4 count (a particular type of white blood cell that helps to predicts how long a person has been infected with HIV, a plasma HIBV RNA (which helps to determine how fast the HIV infection is progressing), a CBC (complete blood count) which helps to determine a persons general health, a white blood count (which also helps to determine a person’s general health, a chemistry (which helps to determine a person’s kidney function), and a liver function test (which determines the condition of a person’s liver). In addition, a genotype of the HIV virus may be ordered to determine if the specific type of HIV virus is resistant to the usually prescribed anti-HIV medicine.