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HIV AND ITS TREATMENT: WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

These fact sheets are intended for use by people recently diagnosed with HIV infection or those who are considering starting HIV treatment. The fact sheets are designed as a series but may be used as stand-alone documents. Information in these fact sheets is based on Guidelines for the Use of Antiretroviral Agents in HIV-Infected Adults and Adolescents, developed by the Panel on Clinical Practices for the Treatment of HIV Infection, which is convened by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) in conjunction with the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.

SIDE EFFECTS of ANTI-HIV MEDICATIONS

Anti-HIV medications help people infected with HIV lead longer, healthier lives. The goal of HIV treatment is to reduce the amount of virus in a person's body and prevent destruction of the immune system.

Twenty anti-HIV medications have been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of HIV. These medications must be given in combination, and all of the drugs may cause negative side effects. Such side effects range from mild to life-threatening.

This series of fact sheets discusses some of the major side effects of anti-HIV medications.The information in these fact sheets is based on Guidelines for the Use of Antiretroviral Agents in HIV-Infected Adults and Adolescents (available at http://www.aidsinfo.nih.gov/guidelines/) and Management of Metabolic Complications Associated with Antiretroviral Therapy for HIV-1 Infection: Recommendations of an International AIDS Society-USA Panel (available at http://www.iasusa.org/pub/metcomp.html).

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Table of Contents

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