What is the treatment for HIV or AIDS?
• Antiretroviral medicines. Because HIV is a certain type of virus called a retrovirus, the drugs used to treat it are called antiretroviral medicines. These powerful medicines control the virus and slow progression of HIV infection, but they do not cure it. You need to take these medicines exactly as your doctor prescribes. • HAART. The current recommended treatment for HIV is a combination of three or more medicines. This regimen of medicines is called highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). How many pills you will need to take and how often you will take them depends on which medicines your doctor chooses for you. Remember, each HAART regimen is tailored to each individual patient. There is no one best regimen. You can read more about specific HAART regimens at http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/contentfiles/ HIVandItsTreatment_cbrochure_en.pdf. HAART may cause some side effects. You and your doctor should discuss potential side effects so that you will know if they occur. If you experie