Introduction

This guide is manly written for people starting their HIV combination, and for anyone currently using HIV treatment who was never given support information before they started treatment.

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If you are reading this after June 2009, please call i-Base for a new edition.

Information about HIV treatment can change quickly, so make sure any information you read is up to date. Be careful of information, whether printed or from the internet, that is not clearly dated.

We have updated this guide at least every year for the last eight years. If you are reading this after June 2009, please call i-Base for a new edition.

References are to 2008 UK, European and US treatment guidelines. These documents include useful tables.

• www.bhiva.org
• www.eacs.eu
• www.aidsinfo.nih.gov

Changes to this edition include:

• A caution against using abacavir by people with a high risk of heart disease or who start treatment with a viral load over 100,000 copies/mL.
• A caution against treatment interruptions, based on results from the SMART study.
• The recommendation to start treatment earlier when CD4 count is at 200-350.
• To focus the section on drugs choice and combinations on the most frequently used drugs.
• Updating references to new drugs or formultions including Atripla, darunavir, raltegravir, maraviroc etravirine and atazanavir.
• New pages to record your treatment history, including results from blood tests and treatment choices.

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If you have and questions...

Treatment information phoneline

Treatment information phoneline
0808 800 6013 Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 12-4 pm
i-Base runs a free treatment information phoneline for information and support on all aspects of HIV treatment. Calls are free from UK landlines and Orange network. If calling from outside the UK, please call +44 20 7407 8488.

HIV treatment Q & A service

We can answer your HIV treatment questions online
The website also has a question and answer service where questions can be answered online and by email.
www.i-base.info/questions

Not-for-profit copying is encouraged or call for extra free copies. Written by Simon Collins and produced by HIV i-Base. Drawings: Beth Higgins.

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This is the web edition of the i-Base guide Introduction to combination therapy. This guide is available in UK clinics. You can order free printed copies or download a PDF version (516 Kb). Translations. Glossary. Full section index.

Decisions relating to your treatment should always be taken in consultation with your doctor. Information in this guide is intended to support those discussions.