The drugs available for HIV are known as antiretroviral therapy (ART). HIV treatment in Sri Lanka is provided by the National HIV Control Project. Under it, 30 ART clinics are operating throughout Sri Lanka, and the doctors in these clinics are committed to providing services while maintaining the confidentiality of people living with HIV.
Why do people living with HIV (PLHIV) need treatment?
1. To improve health and quality of life
With the recent advances in antiretroviral therapy, those who take it regularly can live normal lives.
2. To prevent the spread of HIV to others (partners, newborns and any other sexual partners).
What happens with ART drugs?
Current ART treatments reduce the level of virus in the blood to an undetectable level. When the viral load is low, the risk of getting sick from HIV is low. The goal of current HIV treatments is to keep the viral load at an undetectable level.
When the viral load is low, the immune system begins to strengthen again. An increase in the number of CD4 cells, which are the basic building blocks of your immune system, is an indicator that the immune system is strengthening.
Once you start taking HIV treatment, you need to take it for life. If you stop taking ART, you may develop resistance to the drugs. This can make it difficult to control the virus. That is why it is very important to adhere to the treatment.
Adherence to treatment
1. Make your medication a part of your daily routine. We don’t forget to have a cup of tea in the morning, do we? By including taking your medication in your daily routine, we can prevent it from being forgotten.
2. Use a reminder. We all have a mobile phone. Set the alarm to ring when you need to take your medicine. Get help from a friend who is also living with HIV and is on ART to remind you when it is time to take your medicine. Exchange a phone call or text message every day to remind you.
3. Change your lifestyle. If we use drugs or alcohol, it can cause us to forget when it is time to take our medicine. It can also interfere with our daily medication routine. So think about what changes you need to make to your lifestyle after receiving an HIV diagnosis.
Are there any side effects?
Some people live their entire lives without any side effects from HIV medications. But like all medications, ART can cause some side effects. Some people can develop bone or kidney side effects from ART medications.
Although there may be temporary side effects such as nausea, headache, rash, vomiting, diarrhea and fatigue during the first few weeks of treatment, these will gradually subside. If temporary side effects persist for several months, it is important to discuss them with your doctor.
Are there alternative treatments for HIV?
The best treatment for HIV is currently available ART. Therefore, it is very important to discuss alternative treatments with your doctor.
Beliefs and beliefs, prayer and meditation cannot be considered alternative treatments. They can help you follow the treatment plan given by your doctor.
Although some doctors in Sri Lanka have claimed that Ayurvedic medicines can cure HIV, this has not been scientifically proven.
Remember – people who take their ART correctly for HIV cannot spread the virus. So if you are a person living with HIV, stopping your medication can put you at risk of spreading the virus to others.