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Easy-to-read and illustrated information on the possible side effects of HIV treatment.

The most common side effects are the result of your body getting used to a new drug. After a few weeks, these side effects usually go away. Short-term side effects can include diarrhoea, feeling sick, feeling tired and disturbed sleep.

Side effects that have long-term consequences for your health are less common.

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Side effects

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Side effects
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

Taking drugs on time

Taking drugs on time

Drug resistance

Drug resistance

HIV and the immune system

HIV and the immune system

Myths and facts

Myths and facts

Life expectancy

Life expectancy leaflet front cover

What is an elite controller?

A to Z of antiretroviral medications

Antiretroviral drug chart

Antiretroviral drug chart

Starting HIV treatment

Pill in hand

Recommended treatments for HIV

A man in a blue t-shirt gets HIV treatment out of a blister pack.

One-pill-a-day HIV treatments

Image: carballo/Shutterstock.com

Anti-HIV drugs

Anti-HIV drugs booklet

Taking your HIV treatment

Taking your HIV treatment booklet

An introduction to HIV medicines

An introduction to HIV medicines

Why taking your HIV treatment properly is important

Image: Domizia Salusest | www.domiziasalusest.com

Adherence to HIV treatment

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.

HIV & women

Cover and inside spread of the HIV & women booklet.

Resistance to anti-HIV drugs

Image: Domizia Salusest | www.domiziasalusest.com

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

Mareike Günsche | www.aspect-us.com

Interactions between HIV medication and recreational drugs

Two syringes, powder and spoon on old wooden background.

Changing HIV treatment

A man in a bathroom holding two bottles of medication and reading the label of one of them.

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.

Allergic reactions to HIV medications

Photoroyalty/Shutterstock.com

HIV treatment side-effects and mental health

Image: Domizia Salusest | www.domiziasalusest.com

Peripheral neuropathy and HIV

Image: Olena Yakobchuk/Shutterstock.com.

Lipodystrophy and HIV treatment

Flotsam/Shutterstock.com

Weight gain and HIV treatment

Shutterstock Studios HIV in View gallery

HIV treatment as you get older

A man stands in a doorway smiling.