3 Introduction to anti-retrovirals (ARVs)

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Index

3.1 Introduction
3.2 Aims for this section
3.3 What is combination therapy?
3.4 Do the drugs really work?
3.5 How HIV drugs work – types of drugs
3.6 Treatment guidelines
3.7 When to start treatment
3.8 Why 3 or more drugs are used
3.9 Reducing viral load to less than 50 copies/mL
3.10 Treatment choice
3.11 Side effects
3.12 Can I change treatment?
3.13 Can I take a break in my treatment?
3.14 Recreational drugs, alcohol and complementary therapy
3.15 Adherence – and why it is so important
3.16 Tips to help adherence
3.17 What if I forget to take my pills?
3.18 Resistance to ARVs
3.19 Treatment failure

Questions and answers

• Questions
• Answers

Learning resources

• European ARV drugs and doses
• WHO recommended ARVs
• Interactions between ARVs and street drugs
• Glossary

PDFs

• Introduction to anti-retrovirals PDF 185 Kb
• Questions PDF 40 Kb
• Answers PDF 56 Kb

Learning resources.

Questions.

Contents.

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