Summary

  • HIV treatment is very effective and can mean a long and healthy life, but anti-HIV drugs can cause unwanted side-effects.
  • HIV treatment is meant to make you better; you don’t have to put up with side-effects.
  • It’s not inevitable that you will experience side-effects and if side-effects do develop it’s often possible to do something about them.
  • Some anti-HIV drugs can cause an allergic reaction and you will be told about the symptoms to look out for and what to do if you experience them.
  • You’re most likely to notice side-effects soon after you start taking a new drug and these usually lessen or go away with time.
  • It always makes good sense to tell your doctor about any side-effects you are experiencing.
  • The side-effects caused by the most commonly used HIV drugs tend to be mild.
  • Common side-effects are diarrhoea, feeling or being sick, headache, rash and tiredness. It’s usually possible to take medicines to control these.
  • Some side-effects develop after you’ve been taking a medicine for a period of months or even years. You’ll have tests to check for these and it makes good sense to tell your doctor about any unusual symptoms.
Donate