Treatment for HIV means treating the whole body well.


Treatment

Page Highlights:

What Kind of Treatments Are Available?

Today, people who are infected with HIV are treated with antiretroviral therapy (ART). ART uses different kinds of medications to keep HIV from growing and multiplying in your body. Most people on ART take a combination of several meds prescribed by their doctors to keep their HIV disease under control.

How Does ART Work?

The goal of ART is to lower the amount of HIV in your body, so that your immune system can stay strong and healthy. Some ART drugs keep the virus from reproducing and some block HIV from entering your body's cells. For more information, see NIH’s AIDS Medicines.

ART works best when you and your doctor can find a combination of drugs and a treatment plan that will keep your HIV in check and have the fewest side effects.

Does ART Cure HIV?

No; at this time, there is no cure for HIV/AIDS. When it works, ART keeps HIV from damaging your immune system—but it cannot cure HIV disease.

When Should I Start ART?

Even though you are HIV-positive, you may not need to start treatment right away. When to start anti-HIV (also called antiretroviral) medications depends on:

  • your overall health
  • how well your immune system is working (CD4 count)
  • the amount of virus in your blood (viral load)

You and your doctor will determine the best time to start treatment.

HIV experts agree that you should start ART immediately if:

  • You have an AIDS-defining illness
  • Your CD4 cell count is below 350
  • You are pregnant
  • You have HIV-associated nephropathy (a kidney disorder)
  • You also need treatment for hepatitis B

Many experts also agree that you should start ART if your CD4 count is below 500.

If your CD4 count is over 500, there is no clear recommendation about starting treatment. Although there is still some debate, some experts believe that you should start ART immediately after you test positive for HIV because new evidence suggests that ART can:

  • Help you live longer
  • Lower your risk of developing non-HIV-related illnesses (e.g., heart disease, diabetes)
  • Reduce the chances that you will transmit HIV to others

Other HIV experts feel that there is not yet enough data showing benefits of starting treatment with a CD4 count >500. They worry that we don’t know enough about the long-term effects of ART and that it might be hard for people to stick with their HIV treatment plan if they have to do it for longer periods of time. They also worry that long-term use of HIV drugs could make the meds less effective over time—or cause them to stop working completely. These experts support waiting until there is more evidence before starting healthy patients on ART. If your CD4 count is >500 you may want to discuss the risks and benefits of starting treatment early with your doctor or health care provider.

Treatment should only be started once the person is ready. A lot of commitment is needed, since following a drug regime can be quite demanding and in most circumstances, the treatment will have to be taken for life. If you and your doctor decide you should begin treatment, your doctor will work with you to choose meds that meet your individual health needs and fit your lifestyle.

Does ART Work for Everyone?

No. Some people respond very well to ART—but ART is not effective for everyone. It depends on many different factors, including your overall level of health and how much damage HIV has already done to your immune system.

There are some things you can do to increase the effectiveness of ART:

  • Follow your healthcare provider’s instructions for taking your meds. Taking too few or too many—or taking them at the wrong time—can cause health problems and can make your meds less effective or even make them stop working.
  • Take only the ART medications that your healthcare provider prescribes for you. If you take ART meds that are not in your treatment plan, you may have fewer options if one of your meds stops working and you need to switch to a new one.

Can ART Medications Stop Working?

Yes. Sometimes, when HIV has been exposed to a medication for a long time, the virus will learn how to get around it. If that happens, your healthcare provider will change your medication to a new one that the virus doesn’t recognize.

Taking your meds according to schedule—and taking only those drugs prescribed for you by your doctor—can increase the effectiveness of ART and give you more options to choose from if one of your meds stops working.

What Else Can I Do to Take Care of Myself?

Treatment for HIV/AIDS is more than just taking pills every day—it’s about taking care of yourself. While medications are very important for treating HIV, there are other things that will help keep your immune system healthy:

  • A well-balanced and nutritious diet
  • Daily exercise
  • Plenty of rest
  • Regular check-ups with your doctor and dentist
  • Avoiding use of tobacco, alcohol or illicit drugs

Each of these things helps to boost your immune system and keep it strong. Taking care of yourself will also help prevent other chronic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, or high blood pressure.

For more information, see CDC’s Living With HIV: How Can I Stay Healthy Longer?

Last revised: 08/22/2011

Frequently Asked Questions

If I feel okay, can I stop taking my HIV medications?

No. Even if you are feeling great, HIV is still in your body and can make you sick if you stop your meds. You should always check with your healthcare provider before stopping or changing your HIV treatment.

My friend and I are taking different HIV medications. Can we share or trade drugs?

No. Your healthcare provider chooses HIV meds specific for your condition and health needs. Your friend may have very different needs. Sharing or trading meds can put both of you at risk for unwanted side effects—and could even make your meds stop working. If you have questions about other drugs, talk to your healthcare provider.

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