Side effects of ARV’s
In terms of potential side effects associated with different ARVs, these vary from person to person. They can range from mild to severe and different people may experience nausea, diarrhoea and fatigue. There are other less common side-effects such as mood fluctuation.
The drug Efavirenz, causes the most side-effects. Most people experience dizziness, nightmares, sluggishness, and some people even get depressed. These symptoms are short-lived but if they persist, people must consult their health care practitioners. There are other options. Shift workers, for example, on Efavirenz, may become drowsy and dizzy. Such side effects are common when starting efavirenz.
Although the clinic may suggest giving it more time, some people change within a week if they are badly affected. There are however various ARV’s available.
Can I stop taking ARV’s when I’m in remission?
After one has started taking ARV’s, one’s doctor will test how much HIV virus is still in one’s bloodstream (known as the viral load). This will determine how well the drug therapy is working. If the medicines are working, one’s viral load has gone down. This will show if one has less of the virus in one’s bloodstream. A very important goal of treatment is to reduce the viral load to “undetectable” levels, and to keep it there. “Undetectable” means the viral load is too low to measure using standard laboratory tests. This is when the person enters remission.
Taking a “drug holiday” from anti-HIV medicine, for reasons other than a severe reaction to medications, may be harmful to one’s health.