How Can Drug Resistance Be Avoided?
Learn as much as possible about anti-HIV drugs. The more you know, the easier it will be to make treatment choices that can help avoid drug resistance. Start treatment with a powerful anti-HIV regimen. The first drug regimen you take may be your best chance to fully suppress the virus and prevent the development of drug resistance. Follow instructions. It’s very important to take your medications exactly as prescribed. Missing doses, not taking the right number of pills, or eating when pills need to be taken on an empty stomach, can all cause viral load to increase and drug-resistance mutations to develop. Good communication with a healthcare provider. Asking questions and reporting any problems to your healthcare provider are important for avoiding drug resistance. Regular viral load testing matters. An increasing viral load is often the first sign that drug resistance is developing. Monitoring viral load regularly is a good way to guard against resistance. Tim Horn is executive edito
