Advances in HIV Treatment

Since the first HIV medication came to market in 1987, people are living longer, more productive lives despite their HIV infection. Scientists and researchers have worked hard to develop new and improved HIV treatments that make patient compliance easier. By improving medication regimen adherence, researchers have improved HIV treatment outcomes.

Fewer Doses Each Day

• The first multi-drug regimens for HIV required a person to take medications three or four times each day. Because some medications had to be taken on an empty stomach or apart from other medications, HIV-infected people were taking medications around the clock.

  In fact, drugs were taken so many times each day that people wore watches with alarms that would remind them of their next medication dose. Today, most drug combinations can be taken in one or two doses each day. In fact there are some drug regimens that only need to be taken once a day.

  Fewer doses each day means better medication adherence and in turn, better treatment outcomes.

Fewer Pills Each Day

• The earliest drug combinations not only had to be taken several times each day but each dose consisted of several pills or capsules. Depending on the drug combination, people were required to take 20 or more pills each day.

  The newest drug regimens are combined into a few pills. In fact one medication, Atripla, is a combination of three HIV medications in one tablet that is taken once a day.

Fewer Side Effects

• Almost any prescription medication has risk of side effects. The earliest HIV medication combinations had significant side effects that made taking the drugs very difficult. Nausea, headache, diarrhea and fatigue were common side effects.

  Diarrhea and nausea are the most-listed side effects of today's HIV medications.

Better Formulations

• There are two HIV medications whose formulations have been changed to make them easier to take. Videx (didanosine) was originally a large wafer that had to be chewed several times each day, had a terrible taste and caused patients to vomit.

  Videx is now a capsule that can be swallowed once a day, making the medication much easier to take.

  Another drug by the name of Kaletra (lopinavir) was initially a capsule that needed to be refrigerated and taken with food. This made timing and storage of the medication much more difficult.

  Now, Kaletra is a tablet that needs no refrigeration and can be taken with or without food, making storing and scheduling your doses much easier.

Attack New Sites in the HIV Life Cycle

• HIV medications attack different stages of the HIV life cycle. By interrupting these steps in HIV reproduction, HIV medications help control your HIV infection. In the last few years, drug researchers have found unique ways for HIV medications to attack the virus. These new avenues of treatment have given people more options for HIV treatment regimens and have given hope to people have exhausted other HIV treatment choices.