People who live with HIV usually take medication, or antiretroviral therapy (ART), every day. This is a combination of medicines which work together to keep HIV at low levels in the body, helping people live healthy lives where they are unlikely to pass HIV on to others.
However, taking daily medication can be difficult. It can be hard to remember or is sometimes an unwelcome reminder of HIV. Young people we work with often need support.
My medicine, my health
We’ve been working with a group of young people who live with HIV and health experts to produce a new set of resources on HIV medication. These include an in-depth information booklet on HIV medication (ART), information sheets on contraception and HIV meds, PEP, PrEP and the search for an HIV cure. We’ve also made a set of animations and informative videos.
The My Medicine, My Health booklet gives detailed guidance on HIV medicine, how it works, how to take it, and what to expect. It includes an A-Z list of the antiretrovirals available for young people in the UK with key information on each.
How HIV medicine works
Everyone has an immune system, which is what fights off illnesses and protects you from infections. The HIV virus attacks immune system cells (CD4 cells), using these cells to make copies of itself and damaging them in the process. After a while, your immune system cannot fight off colds and other illnesses as easily as it used to.
HIV medicine, or antiretroviral therapy (ART), stops the HIV from attacking the immune system. It works by keeping the HIV locked up, or ‘sleeping’, so it can’t make copies of itself.
The medicine can’t get rid of HIV completely, but when taken correctly, it does prevent HIV from having any impact on the body and its functions.
There are different types of medication that work together to control HIV in the body. This is why people in your family who have HIV may take more than one type of medicine.
Meet Andie as she learns about HIV meds from someone familiar.
Follow Andie’s story as she learns how best to take her HIV medicine
Andie learns about possible side effects of medication and how to deal with them
Andie learns all she needs to know about using contraception with HIV medication
Information sheets
These short guides focus in on specific subjects, including the HIV cure, contraception and HIV meds, and preventative HIV medication, PEP and PrEP. Find these below.
Contraception and HIV meds
All you need to know about choosing contraception when taking HIV medication. Some contraceptive pills may interact with your HIV meds and make them less effective.
HIV cure
Can HIV be cured? Are researchers trying to find a cure? What about the people who’ve been cured in news stories? All you need to know about progress on the HIV cure.
Preventative HIV medication
There are now pills you can take which keep you or your partner safe from contracting HIV. Find the facts in the info sheets below.
PEP
Take PEP after a potential exposure to HIV, for example if you were having sex and the condom broke.
PrEP
Take PrEP every day to ensure ongoing protection from HIV.
All of these resources were funded by ViiV Healthcare and supported by aidsmap.
How HIV medicine works
HIV lives within the fluids in the body. Everyone’s body has an immune system (this is what fights off illnesses and protects you from infections). The HIV virus attacks the immune system cells, making copies of itself, which kill off more immune system cells, and so, after a while, your immune system cannot fight off colds and other illnesses as easily anymore.
The medicines, called antiretroviral therapy (ART), stop the HIV from attacking the immune system. The medicines can’t get rid of the HIV virus completely, but when taken correctly, they do prevent it from having any impact on the body and its functions.
For tips to help you manage taking your medicine from other young people click here.
In this video, specialist nurse Susanna Keiderling talks through some HIV Medication FAQs.
