TO SWITCH OR NOT TO SWITCH
THESE DAYS, THERE ARE MORE SAFE AND EFFECTIVE OPTIONS THAN EVER TO TREAT HIV. HERE’S HOW TO KNOW WHEN A CHANGE IN YOUR REGIMEN MIGHT DO YOU GOOD.
If your HIV medication is working well for you without any significant side effects or issues, there may be no need to consider switching up your regimen. However, if you’ve ever considered changing meds, it is now well documented that it is safe — and sometimes highly advantageous — to switch from one HIV treatment to another. But with more options available than ever, it can be challenging to try to figure out which regimen might be right for you — which is why it’s important to discuss it with your doctor. If you are already undetectable, you can switch without risking your 36
viral suppression. If you are struggling to take your meds as prescribed, facing daunting side effects, dealing with a comorbidity (like high cholesterol or liver disease), experiencing certain health concerns (say, fragility as you age), or have changing lifestyle issues (such as unusual work hours), then talking to your doctor about reevaluating your medications can be the right choice. They’ll most likely be able to fine-tune your regimen just for you, which could in turn greatly improve your quality of life. Read on for our tips to know when it may be a good time to discuss switching with your doc (and don’t forgot to bring our annual Treatment Guide with you!):
SHUTTERSTOCK
BY JACOB ANDERSON-MINSHALL AND DESIRÉE GUERRERO
J U LY / AU G UST 202 1
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