When someone is diagnosed with antiretroviral therapy, a combination of medicines used to treat HIV by blocking the virus’s ability to reproduce. Also known as ART, it’s not a cure—but it turns HIV from a death sentence into a manageable condition. Since the 1990s, ART has changed everything. People living with HIV who take their meds daily can now expect to live just as long as anyone else—and reduce their risk of passing the virus to nearly zero.
ART works by attacking HIV at different stages of its life cycle. You’re usually on a mix of three or more drugs from at least two different classes, like NRTIs, nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors that stop HIV from copying its genetic material, or NNRTIs, non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors that bind directly to the virus’s enzyme. These aren’t random choices. Doctors pick combinations based on your health, possible side effects, and whether you’ve taken HIV meds before. The goal? Keep your viral load, the amount of HIV in your blood so low it can’t be detected, and let your CD4 count, a measure of immune system strength bounce back. Without ART, HIV destroys CD4 cells until your body can’t fight off even common infections.
Sticking to your schedule is everything. Missing doses—even just one or two—can let the virus adapt and become resistant. That means your meds might stop working, and your options shrink. That’s why many people now use once-daily pills that combine multiple drugs into a single tablet. Simpler regimens mean fewer missed doses. And while side effects like nausea, headaches, or sleep issues can happen at first, most fade within weeks. Newer drugs have fewer long-term risks than older ones, and your doctor can switch you if something isn’t working.
ART isn’t just about pills. It’s about testing, monitoring, and staying connected to care. Regular blood tests track your viral load and CD4 count. If your numbers stay low, you’re doing great. If they rise, your team adjusts your treatment. You’re not alone in this—millions worldwide are on ART and living full lives. What you take, how often, and why it matters are all part of a system designed to keep you healthy, not just alive.
Below, you’ll find real-world guides on how to manage HIV meds, avoid interactions, spot side effects early, and stay on track—even when life gets busy. These aren’t theory pages. They’re tools from people who’ve been there.
Nevirapine blocks HIV by disabling the reverse transcriptase enzyme, preventing the virus from copying itself. Used in combination therapy, it remains vital in low-resource settings despite newer alternatives.
