HIV Treatment Adherence
Key Points
- Treatment adherence includes starting HIV treatment, keeping all medical appointments, and taking HIV medicines exactly as prescribed. For people with HIV, treatment adherence is key to staying healthy.
- After confirming an HIV diagnosis, people with HIV should see a health care provider to start taking HIV medicines as soon as possible.
- Because HIV requires lifelong treatment, people with HIV should regularly visit their health care provider. Ongoing medical care includes monitoring to make sure a person's HIV treatment regimen is keeping the virus under control.
What is HIV treatment adherence?
For people with HIV, treatment adherence means:
- Starting HIV treatment
- Taking HIV medicines exactly as prescribed (also called medication adherence)
- Keeping all medical appointments
Adherence to treatment is a key part of staying healthy with HIV.
How soon should a person start treatment after testing positive for HIV?
Once someone gets diagnosed with HIV, it is best to see a health care provider as soon as possible to discuss HIV medicines and find the best treatment regimen for their specific needs. Treatment with HIV medicines (called antiretroviral therapy or ART) is recommended for everyone with HIV and can help them live long, healthy lives. HIV medicines also reduce the risk of HIV transmission.
Because HIV requires lifelong treatment, it is important for people with HIV to regularly visit their health care provider. Health care providers periodically monitor people with HIV to make sure their treatment regimen is working effectively.
During regular medical appointments, health care providers can also recommend resources to help people deal with any issues that may interfere with medication adherence.
Why is medication adherence important?
Taking HIV medicines as they are prescribed prevents HIV from multiplying, which reduces the risk that HIV will mutate and produce drug-resistant HIV. Skipping HIV medicines allows HIV to multiply, which increases the risk of HIV drug resistance, treatment failure, and transmission to others.
Poor adherence to an HIV treatment regimen also allows HIV to destroy the immune system. A damaged immune system makes it hard for the body to fight off infections and certain cancers.
What are common causes of poor medication adherence?
Maintaining good medication adherence can be difficult for many reasons. The table below provides examples of barriers to medication adherence, with some potential solutions to help overcome those barriers.
Adherence Barrier | Potential Solution |
| Busy schedule | Treatment planner (or pill organizer) |
| Lack of health insurance | Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) services; AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs) |
| Lack of transportation | “Meds to Beds” programs; prescription delivery |
| Lack of stable housing | Housing resources from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development |
| Trouble swallowing pills | Single-tablet regimens; injectable HIV medicines |
| HIV medicine side effects | Consult with your health care provider for a new HIV treatment regimen |
| Substance use | Multidisciplinary support; directly-observed therapy; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) resources |
| Fear of judgment | Screening and counseling for unmet social needs; stigma education |
Any barriers from the table above can make it hard to take HIV medicines consistently. A health care provider can help find a suitable treatment regimen that increases the likelihood of medication adherence.
Where can a person find resources to help with HIV treatment adherence?
Explore these HIVinfo and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) resources to learn more about treatment adherence:
HIVinfo:
- Just Diagnosed: Next Steps After Testing Positive for HIV
- How to Find HIV Treatment Services
- Following an HIV Treatment Regimen: Steps to Take Before and After Starting HIV Medicines
CDC:
This fact sheet is based on information from the following sources:
From the NIH Office of AIDS Research:
- Guidelines for the Use of Antiretroviral Agents in Adults and Adolescents With HIV:
From the Health Resources and Services Administration:
From HIV.gov:
Also see the HIV Source collection of HIV links and resources.