Taking antiretroviral drugs for HIV infection

Why is it important to take antiretroviral therapy drugs exactly as prescribed?

Complications may develop if you do not take your antiretroviral therapy drugs exactly as prescribed.

• The antiretroviral therapy drugs will not control the virus replication as effectively or protect the immune system.
• Drug resistance is more likely to occur. The virus that causes HIV can become resistant to antiretroviral drugs used to treat the infection.

Test Your Knowledge

1. Drug resistance is more likely to occur if I do not take my drugs exactly as prescribed.

1. True
2. False

2. Not taking my antiretroviral drugs exactly as prescribed will not change the effectiveness of the antiretroviral drug.

1. True
2. False

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Author:	Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS	Last Updated: June 6, 2007
Medical Review:	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Peter Shalit, MD, PhD - Internal Medicine
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