TREATMENTS AND ADHERENCE
Taking HIV medication exactly as prescribed is referred to as ‘adherence’. Adherence is critical if your HIV medication is to work as intended. With today’s treatments, adherence is far less of a challenge than it once was, as treatment regimens are far more simple. Many people living with HIV are only taking a pill or two a day.
MISSED A DOSE?
Taking medication regularly at the right time is key. Every time you skip a dose you increase the chance of HIV replicating at a faster rate in your body, which also increases the chance of a strain of HIV developing that may be resistant to your medication. If this happens, it may reduce your treatment options.
If you’ve missed a dose you can’t ‘make it up’ by taking extra medication at your next dose. For example, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take the next dose as you normally would. Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking it as you would normally. This is because for your medication to be effective it needs to be present at a certain concentration in your bloodstream. Your doses are carefully controlled to make sure this happens over the course of the day.
