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Easy-to-read and illustrated information on the importance of taking anti-HIV drugs on time.

For HIV treatment to work well, you need to always take your pills at the right time, without missing any doses.

Taking anti-HIV drugs regularly will mean that there is always enough of the drugs in your body. This will keep HIV under control. Not taking drugs as prescribed can result in HIV being harder to treat in the future.

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Taking drugs on time

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Taking drugs on time
Roger Pebody

Roger Pebody

Commissioning Editor

Roger joined aidsmap in 2008 and was Managing Editor from 2018 to 2024. As a freelancer, he now edits aidsmap’s news and conference coverage, as well as working on updates to About HIV pages. He is also a contributing science editor for TheBodyPro, a freelance journalist for The Lancet HIV, and a medical writer helping researchers prepare articles for peer-reviewed journals. He began working on HIV at Gay Men Fighting AIDS in the mid-1990s.

Basic information

How treatment works

How treatment works

Drug resistance

Drug resistance

Side effects

Side effects

HIV and the immune system

HIV and the immune system

What should I do if I throw up after taking my HIV meds?

How long will it take for HIV to develop resistance to my medications?

Taking your HIV treatment

Taking your HIV treatment booklet

Adherence to HIV treatment

Image: Domizia Salusest | www.domiziasalusest.com

Why taking your HIV treatment properly is important

Image: Domizia Salusest | www.domiziasalusest.com

Resistance to anti-HIV drugs

Image: Domizia Salusest | www.domiziasalusest.com

Food requirements for anti-HIV medications

People sit outside at a table with a close up of a hand with pills in it.

Interactions between HIV medication and recreational drugs

Two syringes, powder and spoon on old wooden background.

What happens to HIV drugs in the body, and do missed doses matter?

Mareike Günsche | www.aspect-us.com

HIV treatment breaks

A white pill bottle is tipped over with white pills spilling out on to a table.

Side-effects of HIV treatment

An older man sitting in a chair with a blanket over his knees. He's resting his head on his hand.