Anti-HIV Drugs: Basic Information
Forget about what you have already heard about HIV treatment. The world of anti-HIV drugs in 2005 is very different to what it was even two years ago. Today, new important medications, and other older medications of proven efficacy, can be taken less frequently with less side effects.
However, choosing a treatment and when to start are important decisions. Luckily, recently infected people who are not yet receiving treatment tend to go 10 years without symptoms. This means that once you are detected as being HIV positive, depending on your test results, you can generally hope to be able to take an informed decision about treatment use.
However, as soon as you are determined to be HIV positive, the first thing you must do is find the best HIV specialist. To do this, you can ask for referrals from any AIDS organization in your local area. To know whether you need to take anti-HIV drugs, your doctor will do at least two blood tests:
- a viral load test, which measures the amount of HIV in your blood system, and
- a CD4 cell test, also known as a CD4 count, which determines how strong your immune system is.
Based on the results of these two tests, you and your doctor will have a good idea of the progression of the HIV in your body and when you must start taking anti-HIV drugs.
To see if the HIV is progressing in your body, visit the doctor for a check-up every three to six months. When you and your doctor decide you are ready to start treatment, there are some things you must consider. This leaflet will guide you through this process.
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