Recently diagnosed with HIV? Click here

Understanding HIV treatments

Having a good level of treatments literacy is a key to living successfully with HIV. Issues such as different drug classesA group of anti-HIV drugs with the same target of action. Anti-HIV drug classes include nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitors, protease inhibitors and non-nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitors, as well as several others. Combining drugs from three or more classes is the basis of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART)., resistanceHIV which has mutated and is less susceptible to the effects of one or more anti-HIV drugs is said to be resistant., adherance and side effects are covered below.

Key resources

HIV Tests and Treatments 2009

This resource describes the currently available antiviralA medication or substance which is active against one or more viruses. May include anti-HIV drugs, but these are more accurately termed antiretrovirals. drugs for the treatment and management of HIV infection. It also describes some common tests used to monitor the health of people with HIV, and how these tests can be used to help you look after your health, or make decisions about starting, stopping or changing antiviral treatments.

ASHM 2006: Spotlight on Sculptra

Positive Living article • Paul Kidd • 21 December 2006

The annual conference of the Australasian Society for HIV Medicine (ASHMAustralasian Society for HIV Medicine. The peak Australasian organisation representing the medical and health sector in HIV/AIDS and related areas. ) was held in Melbourne in November. This article summarises some key developments. read more »

ASHM 2006: Strategies for coping with multiple drug resistance

Positive Living article • Paul Kidd • 21 December 2006
Treating HIV

Finding effective treatment options for people who have taken many treatments and have multiple resistanceHIV which has mutated and is less susceptible to the effects of one or more anti-HIV drugs is said to be resistantHIV which has mutated and is less susceptible to the effects of one or more anti-HIV drugs is said to be resistant.. mutations continues to be a significant challenge for HIV clinicians, and their patients. read more »

News and Treatments Briefs

Positive Living article • Paul Kidd • 21 December 2006
Treating HIV

HIV-related news in brief from the December 2006 edition of Positive Livingread more »

Time to deliver

Positive Living article • John Daye • 5 October 2006

The 16th International AIDS Conference highlighted numerous important and promising developments in HIV treatments. JOHN DAYE reports. read more »

Non-nukes

Positive Living article • Paul Kidd • 10 July 2006

Non-nucleosides are a powerful option for treating HIV, but cross-resistanceHIV which has mutated and is less susceptible to the effects of one or more anti-HIV drugs is said to be resistantHIV which has mutated and is less susceptible to the effects of one or more anti-HIV drugs is said to be resistant.. can mean you only get one bite of the cherry. This is the final instalment in a three-part series looking at key drug classesA group of anti-HIV drugs with the same target of action. Anti-HIV drug classes include nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitors, protease inhibitorsA type of anti-HIV drug that works by preventing the production of an enzyme, protease, that HIV needs to replicate. and non-nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitors, as well as several others. Combining drugs from three or more classes is the basis of Highly Active AntiretroviralA medication or other substance which is active against retroviruses such as HIV. Therapy (HAARTHighly Active AntiRetroviral Therapy ??? aggressive treatment of HIV infection using several different drugs together.).read more »

The T-20 conundrum

Positive Living article • Paul Kidd • 27 April 2006

What is the place of T-20 in the spectrum of HIV treatment, and when is the best time to start treatment on T-20? These were among the questions considered at a meeting in Sydney on Saturday 8 April. read more »

Treatment breaks: an individual perspective

Positive Living article • Paul Kidd • 27 April 2006

With the SMART trial making treatment interruptions a much less attractive option for people with HIV, we take a look at one man’s experience of taking a break from treatments. read more »

Getting spine: the nucleoside backbone

Positive Living article • Paul Kidd • 19 January 2006

Nucleoside analoguesA type of anti-HIV drug that works by inhibiting a stage of the HIV life cycle called reverse transcription. Non-nucleosides work in a similar way, but are chemically different. are the backbone of successful anti-HIV treatments. This article examines some of the issues involved in selecting the best nucleoside backbone. read more »

Adherence tips

Positive Living article • Paul Kidd • 8 December 2005

Thirty-two quick and easy strategies to help you take your medications on time. read more »

Sticking to it

Positive Living article • Paul Kidd • 8 December 2005

Why is adherence – taking your antiretroviralA medication or other substance which is active against retroviruses such as HIV. medications on time and not missing doses – such a big deal? read more »

Syndicate content
Text size: font smallerfont normalfont larger

Stay in touch

NAPWHA's email newsletters provide regular info about issues affecting people with HIV and the response to HIV in Australia. Click here to subscribe.

Subscribe to Positive Living

Our free quarterly newsmagazine, Positive Living provides authoritative, independent information about living with HIV and HIV treatments. Click here to subscribe.

RSS feeds

Our website has RSS feeds covering all topic areas — just go to the topic area you're interested in and click the RSS feed icon.

Twitter users can stay up-to-date with NAPWHA's work and be alerted to new content on the website by following @napwa.

Join us on Facebook NAPWHA Facebook.

Find out more at LinkedIn

Find out more about NAPWHA at LinkedInNAPWHA at LinkedIn.

HIV Clinical Trials update