Treatment Options

Helping Yourself

The ability to comply with recommended medications and lifestyle changes is critical for successful treatment of HIV and AIDS. Drug therapy for HIV usually requires that several different medications be taken exactly as prescribed, often several times a day and sometimes with food. Not following instructions may allow HIV to become resistant to the drugs, making the medications ineffective. Treatment of HIV infection and AIDS involves:

• Frequent monitoring, often with blood testing
  • Viral Load Test - measures the amount of HIV in a sample of blood
    • Shows how well your body's immune system and medications are controlling the virus
    • Provides a measurement at the time of diagnosis and is also used later on to help determine whether your disease has progressed
  • CD4+ T Cell Count - number of CD4+ T Cells in a sample of blood
    • Shows how well your body's immune system and medications are working
    • Provides a measurement at the time of diagnosis and is also used later on to help determine whether your disease has progressed
• Vaccinations for preventable infections such as pneumonia, influenza, and hepatitis
• Medications to slow or halt the spread of the HIV virus
• Drugs to prevent or treat opportunistic infections

Other Tips:

• Follow your doctor's instructions. Keep all of your appointments, and take your medications exactly as directed. This is often challenging because you may have to take a number of medications at specific times throughout the day. But it is essential to follow your schedule as closely as possible. If you get sick from your medication, call your doctor. Don't stop taking your medication or change the dosage on your own.

• Don't smoke or use illegal drugs. These weaken your body even more.

• Eat the healthiest diet you can. Emphasize fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean protein. Healthy foods help keep you strong, give you more energy and support your immune system. Unfortunately, you may not always feel like eating when you have HIV. But good nutrition is tremendously important. A registered dietitian can be especially helpful if you have diarrhea, weight loss or trouble eating. Also, because your nutritional needs are extremely high and you may not digest food well, talk to your doctor about vitamin and mineral supplements.

• Avoid foods that may put you at risk of infection. These include non-pasteurized dairy products, raw eggs and raw seafood such as oysters, sushi or sashimi. Cook meat until it's well-done or until there's no trace of pink color.

• Drink pure water. The Department of Health and Human Services recommends that you boil tap water or use bottled or filtered water for drinking. If you buy a water filter, look for one that uses reverse osmosis as part of the purification process.

• Get regular exercise. Exercise helps increase your strength and energy levels and can help battle the depression that's often a part of dealing with HIV/AIDS. Talk to your doctor about what kind of exercise is right for you.

• Get enough sleep. Rest when you need to.

• Take care with companion animals. Some animals may carry parasites that can cause infections in people who are HIV-positive. But that doesn't mean you should give up your companion animal. Animals are a great source of comfort. You can protect yourself by having someone else clean your cat's litter box or pick up after your dog. If you must do these chores yourself, wear latex gloves and wash your hands immediately afterward. Don't feed your pets raw meat, and make sure they have all of their shots. Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after petting or playing with your animals.

• Find ways to relax. This might mean anything from yoga or meditation to walking, reading, playing chess or computer games, or listening to music.

• Keep your hands clean. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after using the restroom, before eating or preparing food and after spending time in public places. You might find it helpful to carry a waterless alcohol gel with you for times when it's not convenient to use soap and water.

It is very important to see your doctor regularly. You are encouraged to be an active member of your health care team and to continuously educate yourself about this disease.

Safe Sex:

The only way to prevent spreading HIV or becoming infected with the HIV virus is to avoid behaviors that put a person at risk of infection, such as sharing needles or having unprotected sex. There is no way to know for certain that a sexual partner does not have the virus unless an HIV test yields a negative result and he or she has not engaged in any risky behaviors. The best way to obtain protection from getting infected with the virus is to either abstain from having sex or use a male latex condom or a female polyurethane condom during oral, anal, or vaginal sex.

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Note: The above information is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare professional. It is not intended to diagnose a health condition, but it can be used as a guide to help you decide if you should seek professional treatment or to help you learn more about your condition once it has been diagnosed.