HIV Treatment

Once a person gets HIV, the virus begins to multiply in the body. As HIV multiplies, it sometimes changes form (mutates). Some HIV mutations that develop while a person is taking HIV medicines can lead to drug-resistant HIV.

Once drug resistance develops, HIV medicines that previously controlled the person’s HIV are no longer effective. In other words, the HIV medicines cannot prevent the drug-resistant HIV from multiplying. Drug resistance can cause HIV treatment to fail.

Drug-resistant HIV can spread from person to person (called transmitted resistance). People with transmitted resistance have HIV that is resistant to one or more HIV medicines even before they start taking HIV medicines.

Drug-resistance testing identifies which, if any, HIV medicines that will not be effective against a person’s HIV. Drug-resistance testing is done using a sample of blood.

People with HIV should start taking HIV medicines as soon as possible after their HIV is diagnosed. But before a person starts taking HIV medicines, drug-resistance testing is done.

Drug-resistance test results help determine which HIV medicines to include in a person’s first HIV treatment regimen.

Once HIV treatment is started, a viral load test is used to monitor whether the HIV medicines are controlling a person’s HIV. If viral load testing indicates that a person’s HIV treatment regimen is not effective, drug-resistance testing is repeated. The test results can identify whether drug resistance is the problem and, if so, can be used to select a new HIV treatment regimen.

Taking HIV medicines every day and exactly as prescribed (called medication adherence) reduces the risk of drug resistance. Skipping HIV medicines allows HIV to multiply, which increases the risk that the virus will mutate and produce drug-resistant HIV.

Before starting HIV treatment, tell your health care provider about any issues that can make medication adherence difficult. For example, a busy schedule or lack of health insurance can make it hard to take HIV medicines consistently. Once you start treatment, use a 7-day pill box or other medication aid to stay on track.

The following HIVinfo resources offer more information on drug resistance and medication adherence:

• HIV Drug Resistance (infographic)
• Following an HIV Treatment Regimen: Steps to Take Before and After Starting HIV Medicines (fact sheet)
• Tips for HIV Treatment Regimen Adherence (infographic)

From the Department of Health and Human Services:

• Guidelines for the Use of Antiretroviral Agents in Adults and Adolescents with HIV:
  • Drug-Resistance Testing

From the Department of Veterans Affairs:

• Just Diagnosed
• Treatment Decisions: Starting Therapy

From the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases:

• Starting and Staying on Antiretroviral Treatment

Also see the HIV Source collection of HIV links and resources.