To help with this, we can ensure our medications are:
Carefully selected by the qualified healthcare professional who is treating us,
Have our medication put into blister packs for us (the pharmacy can do this)
Monitored for interactions,
Regularly reviewed by our doctor to ensure they are still effective, safe, and well-tolerated.
When we commit to taking HIV medication exactly as prescribed, we are taking control of our HIV and lowering our HIV viral load.
Skipping doses regularly can trigger a viral load blip that means our bodies are vulnerable and there is an increased risk we can develop resistance. ‘Resistance’ means the medication may no longer work.
Managing multiple medications involves balancing the benefits of the treatment with the potential risks and side effects.
Knowing what medications we are taking, what they are for, how and when to take them, and what to avoid while taking them, is very important.
When we are prescribed new medicine, we need to know:
What the medication is for
How long do we need to use it
Whether there are other medicines or foods we need to avoid while taking them.
Make a list of all your medicines, including each tablet's strength and dose, any herbal products, vitamins, homeopathic remedies, supplements you might be taking, rongoā Māori and over-the-counter medication.
Carry a medicine list everywhere, and bring it to every doctor visit, along with the pill bottles if possible.
Update our medicine list after every doctor visit.
When we have more than one doctor, make sure each one knows what the other has prescribed for us e.g., our GP knows what our specialist has prescribed.
Read the medicine labels or information sheet – they will have advice on what not to take our medicine with to avoid possible unwanted interactions e.g., don’t take with any products containing iron.
When taking a new medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist about its side effects and interactions with other medicines.
We can use a medication interaction checker tool to check any potential interactions that we need to avoid.
Some of us struggle with taking HIV medication. We can reach out to our specialist, ID nurse or trusted pharmacist or seek support.
