Is now the right time to start treatment for HIV?
However, this isn’t recommended now. If you have HIV, the sooner you start treatment, the better it is for your health. The START trial found that there was a 53% reduction in the risk of death or serious illness if treatment was started when the CD4 count (a measure of the strength of your immune system) was still above 500.
What happens if you wait too long to start taking HIV meds?
The longer answer is: The more a person waits before starting HIV meds, the greater their risk of having long-term health problems as a result of their HIV. But HIV meds are very powerful, and have helped people recover even when their immune systems are in extremely bad shape.
How long does it take to get AIDS without treatment?
If no treatment is administered, an individual can stay in this stage for 10 to 15 years. For people who have no symptoms of an acute HIV infection, it takes an average of seven years to proceed to AIDS. How Do You Get HIV?
What should I know before starting an HIV treatment regimen?
Before starting an HIV treatment regimen, tell your health care provider if you have any issues that might make it hard for you to follow an HIV treatment regimen. For example, people who have difficulty swallowing pills or people who do not have health insurance may find it hard to stick to an HIV treatment regimen.
What happens if you don't take HIV medication?
If you skip your HIV treatment, even now and then, you are giving HIV the chance to multiply rapidly. This could weaken your immune system, and you could become sick. Getting and keeping an undetectable viral load (or staying virally suppressed) is the best way to stay healthy and protect others.
At what stage of HIV infection is antiretroviral treatment recommended?
HIV treatment involves taking highly effective medicines called antiretroviral therapy (ART) that work to control the virus. ART is recommended for everyone with HIV, and people with HIV should start ART as soon as possible after diagnosis, even on that same day.
How long can the first stage of HIV infection last?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , primary HIV symptoms may show up 2 to 4 weeks after initial exposure. They can last for several weeks. However, some people may only have symptoms for a few days.
Can I infect someone while on ARVs?
People living with HIV who take antiretroviral medications daily as prescribed and who achieve and then maintain an undetectable viral load have effectively no risk of sexually transmitting the virus to an HIV-negative partner.
What is HIV treatment?
HIV treatment (antiretroviral therapy or ART) involves taking medicine as prescribed by a health care provider. HIV treatment reduces the amount of...
When should I start HIV treatment?
Start HIV treatment as soon as possible after diagnosis. All people with HIV should take HIV treatment, no matter how long they’ve had HIV or how h...
What if I delay HIV treatment?
If you delay treatment, HIV will continue to harm your immune system. Delaying treatment will put you at higher risk for transmitting HIV to your p...
Are there different types of HIV treatment?
There are two types of HIV treatment: pills and shots. Pills are recommended for people who are just starting HIV treatment. There are many FDA-app...
What are HIV treatment shots?
HIV treatment shots are long-acting injections used to treat people with HIV. The shots are given by your health care provider and require routine...
Can I switch my HIV treatment from pills to shots?
Talk to your health care provider about changing your HIV treatment plan. Shots may be right for you if you are an adult with HIV who has an undete...
What are the benefits of taking my HIV treatment as prescribed?
HIV treatment reduces the amount of HIV in the blood (viral load). Taking your HIV medicine as prescribed will help keep your viral load low. HIV t...
Does HIV treatment cause side effects?
HIV treatment can cause side effects in some people. However, not everyone experiences side effects. The most common side effects are Nausea and vo...
What should I do if I’m thinking about having a baby?
Let your health care provider know if you or your partner is pregnant or thinking about getting pregnant. They will determine the right type of HIV...
Can I take birth control while on HIV treatment?
You can use any method of birth control to prevent pregnancy. However, some HIV treatment may make hormone-based birth control less effective. Talk...
How long does it take to get rid of HIV?
There is no effective cure for HIV. But with proper medical care, you can control HIV. Most people can get the virus under control within six months. Taking HIV medicine does not prevent transmission ...
How long does it take for a mother to give her baby HIV?
If a mother with HIV takes HIV medicine as prescribed throughout pregnancy, labor, and delivery and gives HIV medicine to her baby for 4 to 6 weeks after birth, the risk of transmitting HIV to her baby can be 1% or less.
What does it mean when your HIV is suppressed?
Viral suppression is defined as having less than 200 copies of HIV per milliliter of blood. HIV medicine can make the viral load so low that a test can’t detect it (called an undetectable viral load ). If your viral load goes down after starting HIV treatment, that means treatment is working.
What is the amount of HIV in the blood called?
The amount of HIV in the blood is called viral load . Taking your HIV medicine as prescribed will help keep your viral load low and your CD4 cell count high. HIV medicine can make the viral load very low (called viral suppression ). Viral suppression is defined as having less than 200 copies of HIV per milliliter of blood.
Why is it important to take HIV medication?
Taking HIV medication consistently, as prescribed, helps prevent drug resistance. Drug resistance develops when people with HIV are inconsistent with taking their HIV medication as prescribed. The virus can change (mutate) and will no longer respond to certain HIV medication. If you develop drug resistance, it will limit your options ...
Does HIV harm the immune system?
HIV will continue to harm your immune system. This will put you at higher risk for developing AIDS. Learn more about AIDS and opportunistic infections. This will put you at higher risk for transmitting HIV to your sexual and injection partners.
Can you take a medicine if you missed it?
Missing a dose. In most cases, you can take your medicine as soon as you realize you missed a dose. Then take the next dose at your usual scheduled time (unless your pharmacist or health care provider has told you something different).
How long does HIV last?
The damage that HIV causes happens slowly, often over a number of years. Treatment protects you. A person with HIV who is taking treatment and has an undetectable viral load cannot pass on HIV and can expect to live a normal lifespan.
How does HIV treatment work?
The advantages of taking HIV treatment: 1 Once your viral load is undetectable, you cannot pass on HIV to partners. (It might take up to six months on treatment to become undetectable.) 2 You may have less illness, if HIV has been making you ill. 3 The treatment will stop HIV from reproducing in your body. 4 Your immune system will get stronger.
How much does HIV treatment reduce the risk of death?
If you have HIV, the sooner you start treatment, the better it is for your health. The START trial found that there was a 53% reduction in the risk of death or serious illness if treatment was started when the CD4 count (a measure of the strength of your immune system) was still above 500.
What happens if you don't get HIV?
If you're not on effective HIV treatment, the virus can attack and weaken your immune system (the body’s natural defense against infections). Over time, when HIV has done a lot of damage to your immune system, you're likely to become vulnerable to infections that you would otherwise have been able to fight off.
Does HIV cause inflammation?
HIV also causes inflammation in various parts of the body. This can increase the risk of a number of illnesses: cardiovascular disease (for example, heart attack and stroke), kidney or liver problems and some cancers. The damage that HIV causes happens slowly, often over a number of years. Treatment protects you.
Can you pass HIV if you are on treatment?
It’s common for people to feel apprehensive about taking treatment but all you need to remember is that: It will enable you to live a normal lifespan. When you're on effective treatment (meaning you have been taking it as prescribed for at least six months and are undetectable) you won't be able to pass on HIV.
Can you take a few days off work for HIV?
It can also put you in an uncomfortable position if your co-workers don’t know about your HIV status. Ask your doctor if the treatment prescribed to you is likely to cause side effects. Just to be safe, take a few days off work as you begin your treatment.