What if I can't afford my HIV meds?
Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs) offer free or low-cost HIV medications to people who do not qualify for any other insurance or assistance programs such as Medicaid, Medicare, or AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs).
How do people afford HIV meds?
Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs) are programs administered by pharmaceutical companies to offer free or reduced-cost antiretroviral (ARV) medicines to low-income people living with HIV who are uninsured or underinsured, and who do not qualify for federal assistance programs such as Medicaid, Medicare, or AIDS Drug ...
Can HIV be managed without ART?
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 HIV in your body and helps you stay healthy. There is no cure for HIV, but you can control it with HIV treatment.
What happens if you stop antiretroviral therapy?
Discontinuation or interruption of antiretroviral therapy (ART) may result in viral rebound, immune decompensation, and/or clinical progression. Thus, discontinuation or planned interruption of ART is not recommended outside the context of a clinical trial (AI).
Is antiretroviral therapy expensive?
But HIV treatments can be expensive. HIV care involves a type of medication called antiretroviral therapy (ART) and regular visits with your doctor. One study estimated that costs of this care could run anywhere between $1,800 to $4,500 each month during a person's lifetime.
How much do ARV drugs cost in South Africa?
According to our calculations, the average price is R86. 54 (US$6.26) per person per month. Of the eight versions of the new three-drug combination available in the private sector in South Africa, the cheapest is priced at R616 per month – more than seven times the average public sector price.
What will happen if I skip my ARV for 5 days?
Missing doses of HIV medicines can reduce their usefulness and increase the possibility of developing drug resistance, which makes certain HIV drugs lose their effectiveness. If you realize you have missed a dose, go ahead and take the medication as soon as you can, then take the next dose at your usual scheduled time.
What happens if you default ARVs?
If you decide to stop treatment, your viral load is likely to rebound within a week or two. If you stay off treatment your CD4 count will start to drop over the next few months. When this happens the risk of developing other infections and getting sick increases.
Is Undetectable the same as negative?
Being HIV positive and having an undetectable viral load would be considered the same thing as being HIV negative. Instead, we would frown upon those who don't know their status. Being HIV positive and having an undetectable viral load would be accepted, especially within the gay community.
How long can you stay undetectable without medication?
A person's viral load is considered “durably undetectable” when all viral load test results are undetectable for at least six months after their first undetectable test result. This means that most people will need to be on treatment for 7 to 12 months to have a durably undetectable viral load.
What is the name of the new ARV pill?
Early results from people taking a new antiretroviral medication called lenacapavir are promising. The long-acting drug is still at the research stage, but if the developers are able to pair it effectively with other drugs that also only needs to be taken twice a year, it could revolutionise HIV treatment.
When should you discontinue ART?
The decision to discontinue ART can be made by the patient or by the provider. Some reasons providers may recommend discontinuing treatment include severe drug toxicity, intervening illness, surgery that precludes oral therapy, or unavailability of antiretroviral medication.