Glossary

peripheral neuropathy (PN) – damage to the nerves in your hands or feet. PN can be caused by HIV or some HIV drugs.

Peripheral neuropathy – more infomation.

antiretrovirals – the common name for any HIV drugs. HIV is a retrovirus, so drugs to fight HIV are called antiretrovirals. Also abbreviated to ARVs.

randomise – in research, this is a way of decide at random which participants join each group. So neither you or your doctor chose which group you join in a research study. A common example is that the decision would be made similar to tossing a coin.

More information from the i-Base guide to HIV research.

nausea – the feeling that you want to be sick (a feeling of wanting to vomit). 

Nausea section in the side effect guide.

inhibition (in the liver) – refers to the body processing a drug more slowly by inhibiting (or reducing) the enzymes that clear the drug. This leads to higher drug levels.