What are the negative effects of antiretroviral therapy?
Antiretroviral therapy can have a wide range of adverse effects on the human body (Fig. 1). Common but mild adverse effects occurring early in most antiretroviral regimens include gastrointestinal effects such as bloating, nausea and diarrhea, which may be transient or may persist throughout therapy.
What are the two most common adverse effects of highly active antiretroviral therapy?
Adverse Effects. The most common adverse effects associated with discontinuation of HAART are gastrointestinal. These commonly include anorexia, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. These events are usually nonspecific and may be difficult to distinguish as symptoms of the disease or adverse effects of treatment.
How long can you take antiretroviral drugs?
A person’s viral load is considered “durably undetectable” when all viral load test results are undetectable for at least six months after their first undetectable test result. This means that most people will need to be on treatment for 7 to 12 months to have a durably undetectable viral load.
Are antiretroviral drugs safe?
The antiretroviral drugs dolutegravir and emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (DTG+FTC/TAF) may comprise the safest and most effective HIV treatment regimen currently available during pregnancy, researchers announced today.
Does ARVs affect fertility?
ARVs aren’t known to cause fertility problems in women. If you’ve been trying for a while, please talk to your doctor who can help.
Can ARV cause your face to be dark?
This is a skin condition in which the skin reacts to exposure to the sun by turning darker in color. It’s most common in people of color, but anyone with HIV is susceptible to photodermatitis. If you’re taking medications to improve immune strength, you may have this reaction as a side effect.
What is considered a serious long term side effect of antiretroviral therapy?
Long-term morbidity related to antiretroviral therapy includes liver, renal, glucose, and lipid abnormalities, and cardiovascular and bone disease. With some exceptions for lipid management, these morbidities can be managed as in the general population.
How does antiretroviral affect your heart?
Some antiretroviral drugs, including some protease inhibitors, may interfere with the balance of your blood fats. This can lead to increases in cholesterol and triglycerides (types of fat) and to the clogging up of arteries.
What are the long term complications of antiretroviral treatment?
Can ARV make you gain weight?
Weight gain is a common side effect of antiretroviral therapy (ART). On average, people put on about 4 pounds during the first 2 years of their treatment. Most of that gain happens in the first year.
Does antiretroviral drugs cause kidney failure?
Some antiretroviral drugs may concentrate in the kidneys, or inhibit creatinine secretion in the kidneys, leading to damage to the kidney tubules. Inflammation caused by HIV may also lead to kidney damage.
Does ARVs damage liver?
Can HIV drugs cause liver damage? Like many medications, certain antiretroviral drugs can harm the liver, known as hepatotoxicity. Fortunately, modern antiretrovirals are generally much easier on the liver than older meds that are no longer widely used.