FAQ & RESOURCES > Medication and side effects

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Do I have to take medications?
Why is adherence so important?
What should I do if I miss a dose of my medication?
How can I improve or maintain adherence?
How many medications will I need to take?
Why are the differing classes of antiretrovirals important?
How many times a day will I need to take the medicine?
What time of day should I take my medications?
Are there food restrictions when taking HIV/AIDS drugs?
Can I change the pills I am taking in the future?
What can I do if I have nausea or vomiting?
Can I take complementary or alternative medications?
Do any HIV medications require special handling or storage?

Do I have to take medications?

Many factors determine whether you need antiretroviral medication to treat HIV. If your healthcare provider determines that you should take medication and you are willing to do so, you should not stop taking it unless directed by your healthcare provider. Most people who stick to their medication therapy live longer, healthier lives.

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Why is adherence so important?

Adherence means taking your medications exactly as prescribed by your healthcare provider. Adherence is important for any medical condition, but it is especially important in HIV infection because of the risk of drug resistance. Missing doses allows drug levels in your blood to drop, which can then allow HIV to replicate, or reproduce itself and begin to resist the medication. This is called "resistant virus." Over time, the levels of resistant virus in the blood increase, causing your medications to become less effective or stop working all together.

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What should I do if I miss a dose of my medication?

It can't be emphasized enough: Do not miss any doses of your medications. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. In most cases, if it is almost time for your next dose when you remember, you should not take the missed dose or take two doses of the medication at the same time.

Contact your healthcare provider or pharmacist for specific directions.

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How can I improve or maintain adherence?

• Understand your prescribed therapy. If you have questions, ask your provider to clarify what you should be taking and when.
• Use a pill box or medication reminder to organize your daily doses. These devices allow you to easily see whether you have taken your medication for the day.
• Order your refills a week before you run out. Make sure you have enough medication when you travel or during holidays.
• Associate your medication-taking with a daily activity. For example, if you take your medication once a day, take it after brushing your teeth, using the bathroom or inserting your contact lenses.
• Talk to your provider or pharmacist about what to do if you miss a dose.

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How many medications will I need to take?

The recommended treatment for HIV/AIDS is a combination of three or more medications, which is called Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy, or HAART. Sometimes called "cocktails," these medication combinations work to reduce the amount of HIV in the body for an extended period of time.

There are a number of combinations of medications or regimens. Some regimens require several pills. Other regimens use a fixed-dose combination, which is two or more medications formulated into a single pill, taken once a day. Using fixed-dose combinations minimizes the number of pills taken each day, and as a result, makes it easier for people to be adherent. You and your healthcare provider will determine which regimen will work best for you and your lifestyle.

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Why are the differing classes of antiretrovirals important?

HIV goes through several stages during its lifespan. The virus, which begins with its entry into a healthy cell and continues as the cell makes copies of the virus and releases them into the bloodstream. Newly released cells then go on to infect other cells and the process repeats itself billions of times a day. Antiretroviral medications work best by interfering with the various stages of the virus lifespan, which takes multiple medications to accomplish.

Multiple combinations or regimens can be used, and you and your provider will decide which one is best. The decision will be based on the type of virus you have, potential side effects, the number of pills per dose and the number of times a day you are able to take your medications.

No matter which combination you are prescribed, the most important thing is that you take the medication exactly as prescribed. Missing doses can cause allow the virus to mutate and quickly becomes resistant to medication.

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How many times a day will I need to take the medicine?

That depends on the regimen that is chosen for you. In some cases, medication therapy may mean taking a single pill once a day. If you have previously taken HIV medications, it might not be possible to limit your daily dose to a single pill, but it is still possible to have a once-a-day regimen.

In most cases, very few people need a regimen that is more than twice a day. If you are having trouble with a twice-a-day regimen, talk to your healthcare provider about other options that might work for you.

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What time of day should I take my medications?

When you take your medications may vary, depending on your particular medication, your treatment plan or your daily routine. It is important to take them around the same time each day. This is important to keep the levels of the medications in your body high enough to suppress the virus. To help remember, most people associate taking medications with a daily activity, such as brushing or flossing teeth, preparing for bed or eating lunch.

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Are there food restrictions when taking HIV/AIDS drugs?

Ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider about food restrictions with your medication regimen. Some medications need to be taken with food, others should be taken without food and still others are not affected by food at all. Some medications can interact with certain food products, such as grapefruit and its assorted products. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for advice on how to take your medications.

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Can I change the pills I am taking in the future?

The goal of medication therapy is to achieve undetectable levels of the virus in your bloodstream and to stay on an effective medication regimen for as long as possible. However, some people have ongoing side effects or other problems that require a change to a regimen that is newer, has fewer or different side effects or requires fewer pills.

If you are having unmanageable or intolerable side effects or other problems with your medication therapy, tell your healthcare provider, but never stop taking your medications unless your healthcare provider tells you to do so.

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What can I do if I have nausea or vomiting?

If you have nausea and vomiting associated with your medications or HIV infection, you can do several things to make it better.

• Take your medications with food, unless your healthcare provider instructs you otherwise. Food helps minimize the effects of the medications on your stomach and make you less likely to have nausea and vomiting.
• Stay calm and as quiet as possible -- sudden movement can make nausea and vomiting worse.
• Take deep breaths in through your nose and exhale slowly through your mouth.
• Make sure you are in a well-ventilated room and avoid strong odors. Consider acupressure to relieve nausea and vomiting.
• Ask your healthcare provider about medications you can take to control nausea and vomiting.
• Once nausea and vomiting improve, have food and liquids slowly to prevent more vomiting.
• When you begin to eat, start with small amounts of either ginger ale or water. If tolerated, try other easily digested foods such as gelatin (JELL-O® gelatin), clear soups (chicken or beef broth) and weak tea. Once your stomach is more settled, you can resume eating normal food.

Controlling nausea and vomiting is important so your medications remain in your body and you are able to take them as prescribed. If your medications are not absorbed by your stomach, they cannot work with your immune system to fight the HIV infection.

If you have problems with nausea or vomiting, ask your healthcare provider for help.

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Can I take complementary or alternative medications?

Talk with your provider or pharmacist before you use complementary or alternative therapies. These medications are neither regulated by the FDA nor may they be always safe. Some substances can interact with your HIV medications, and only your pharmacist or healthcare provider can help you understand what's safe. Most substances have not been studied enough to establish whether they are safe or whether they can help control HIV. This doesn't mean they don't work, but that there is not enough available information.

Research has not found any alternative therapy that is effective at controlling HIV as well as FDA-approved antiretrovirals. Many complementary or alternative therapies are also very expensive.

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Do any HIV medications require special handling or storage?

Many HIV medications must be stored at specific temperatures to remain effective, which may mean keeping medications at room temperature or in a refrigerator. Check with your pharmacist or refer to the drug information that came with your medication for specific storage directions.

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Information provided here does not constitute professional medical advice. Although it is intended to be accurate, neither Walgreen Co., its subsidiaries or affiliates, nor any other party assumes liability for loss or damage due to reliance on this material. If you have a medical question, consult your medical professional.