where to go for hiv treatment

It’s important to find a doctor who has experience treating HIV. Your local Planned Parenthood

health center can help you get the treatment you need. HIV.gov can also help you find an HIV doctor and other support services in your area.

Full Answer

Is it possible to cure HIV?

While there is currently no cure for HIV, advances in treatment have made it possible for people with HIV to live long and healthy lives. We also now have more tools to halt the epidemic through treatment, prevention and education. Still, a cure would facilitate the global eradication of HIV/AIDS.

How do you care for someone with HIV?

• Talk. Be available to have open, honest conversations about HIV. ...
• Listen. Being diagnosed with HIV is life-changing news. ...
• Learn. Educate yourself about HIV: what it is, how it is transmitted, how it is treated, and how people can stay healthy while living with HIV. ...
• Encourage treatment. ...
• Support medication adherence. ...
• Get support. ...

What are the precautions for HIV?

• Use sterile gloves for procedures involving contact with normally sterile areas of the body.
• Use examination gloves for procedures involving contact with mucous membranes, unless otherwise indicated, and for other patient care or diagnostic procedures that do not require the use of sterile gloves.
• Change gloves between patient contacts.

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How do you cure AIDS?

• Abstract. Single-tablet regimens (STRs) should be considered for patients with HIV/AIDS to increase medication compliance and improve clinical outcomes.
• Introduction. ...
• Results. ...
• Discussion. ...
• Methods. ...
• References. ...
• Funding. ...
• Author information. ...
• Ethics declarations. ...
• Additional information. ...

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Where should I go if I have HIV?

Go to a local clinic or community health center. Go to National HIV and STD Testing Resources to find a testing center near you. Call 800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636) to find testing centers near you.

How much does it cost to treat an HIV patient?

The cost of antiretroviral therapy (ART) used to treat HIV is the cheapest in India, with first-line treatment costing the government Rs 5,000/person/year, and second-line therapy - for people with immunity against the first-line drugs - priced at Rs 29,000/person/year. About 26,000 people are on second-line treatment.

Is treatment for HIV free?

For those without insurance, there are many programs available to help with HIV testing and treatment. Most programs are income-based and provide free or low-cost care to people who qualify. The best way to get started is to call your state's HIV/AIDS hotline.

What is the best treatment for HIV?

The treatment of HIV/AIDS with medicines is called antiretroviral therapy (ART). It is recommended for everyone who has HIV. The medicines do not cure HIV infection, but they do make it a manageable chronic condition. They also reduce the risk of spreading the virus to others.

Can I get Arvs from a private doctor?

People with medical aid cover can get access to treatment for HIV/AIDS including antiretroviral (ARV) therapy, as part of their minimum benefits. People without medical aid can get treatment privately through a doctor or hospital but the cost of antiretroviral drugs is still very high.

Can I infect my partner with an undetectable viral load?

Having an undetectable viral load does mean that there is not enough HIV in your body fluids to pass HIV on during sex. In other words, you are not infectious. For as long as your viral load stays undetectable, your chance of passing on HIV to a sexual partner is zero.

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 ...

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 ...

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.

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 to do if substance use is interfering with your ability to keep yourself healthy?

If substance use is interfering with your ability to keep yourself healthy, it may be time to quit or better manage it. If you need help finding substance use disorder treatment or mental health services, use SAMHSA’s Treatment Locator. external icon. .

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.

Where can I get a prescription for HIV?

You will get a prescription for your HIV treatment at your HIV clinic. Take this to either the specialist HIV pharmacy (in larger clinics) or to the hospital’s outpatient pharmacy. A high-street chemist will not dispense anti-HIV medications, unless your clinic has an agreement with a community pharmacy. The latest news and research on HIV ...

Do you need a referral to a HIV clinic?

Most HIV clinics are ‘open access’. This means that you don’t need a referral from your GP (family doctor) or anyone else to use one. You can simply phone up and ask to register as a patient. You choose which HIV clinic to use.

Is HIV treatment free in the UK?

HIV treatment is provided free of charge, regardless of immigration status. Most people living with HIV in the UK attend specialist HIV clinics or sexual health clinics, which can be found in most areas of the country. Most HIV clinics are ‘open access’.

Can you be charged for HIV treatment in Scotland?

In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, people are not normally charged for HIV treatment and care, although the law still says they can be if they are of uncertain immigration status. There's more information about access to the NHS for migrants on another page.

Who maintains the HIV/AIDS hotline?

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) maintains a list of HIV/AIDS hotlines for the United States, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program provides HIV treatment services to people with HIV who have no health insurance or who are underinsured.

What are the resources that people with HIV need?

There are several resources that can help people with HIV get the medicines they need: AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs) make HIV medicines and other services available to people who are living with HIV and who do not have sufficient health insurance or who need financial assistance.

What is the HUD program for HIV?

Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) manages the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program, which is designed to provide housing assistance to people living with HIV/AIDS and their families.

Can HIV cause mental health problems?

Anyone can have problems with mental health, but people with HIV are more likely to experience some mental health conditions, such as depression, than people without HIV. Read the ClinicalInfo HIV and Mental Health fact sheet for more information. Below are some places to find mental health treatment services:

What is the best treatment for HIV?

After you’re diagnosed with HIV, it’s important to see a health care provider who can help you start HIV medication (called antiretroviral therapy or ART) as soon as possible. ART is recommended for all people with HIV, regardless of how long they’ve had the virus or how healthy they are.

Does ART cure HIV?

ART can’t cure HIV, but it can control the virus. If taken as every day, exactly as prescribed, ART can reduce the amount of HIV in your body (also called the viral load) to a very low level. This is called viral suppression. Viral suppression helps to keep you healthy and prevents illness.

Can HIV be prevented?

People living with HIV who know their status, take HIV medication daily as prescribed, and get and keep an undetectable viral load can live long and healthy lives. There is also a major prevention benefit. People living with HIV who take HIV medication daily as prescribed and get and keep an undetectable viral load have effectively no risk ...

Can HIV be transmitted to a person with HIV?

People living with HIV who take HIV medication daily as prescribed and get and keep an undetectable viral load have effectively no risk of transmitting HIV to their HIV-negative sexual partners. This is often called treatment as prevention.

What are the services that are available to people with HIV?

Services they may provide: Arrange transportation to and from doctor appointments.

What to do if you think you have HIV?

If you think you might have HIV infection, you're likely to start by seeing your family doctor. You may be referred to an infectious disease specialist — who additionally specializes in treating HIV / AIDS.

What test can help determine if you have HIV?

If you receive a diagnosis of HIV / AIDS, several tests can help your doctor determine the stage of your disease and the best treatment, including: CD4 T cell count. CD4 T cells are white blood cells that are specifically targeted and destroyed by HIV. Even if you have no symptoms, HIV infection progresses to AIDS when your CD4 T cell count dips ...

What is HIV RNA?

Viral load (HIV RNA). This test measures the amount of virus in your blood. After starting HIV treatment the goal is to have an undetectable viral load. This significantly reduces your chances of opportunistic infection and other HIV -related complications.

How long does it take to get tested for HIV?

Most rapid HIV tests, including self-tests done at home, are antibody tests. Antibody tests can take three to 12 weeks after you're exposed to become positive. Nucleic acid tests (NATs). These tests look for the actual virus in your blood (viral load). They also involve blood drawn from a vein.

What are some examples of anti-HIV drugs?

Examples include efavirenz (Sustiva), rilpivirine (Edurant) and doravirine (Pifeltro).

What is the treatment for HIV?

However, there are many medications that can control HIV and prevent complications. These medications are called antiretroviral therapy (ART). Everyone diagnosed with HIV should be started on ART, regardless of their stage of infection or complications.