What about alcohol and recreational drugs?

Some HIV drugs interact with recreational and street drugs, methadone and some complementary medicines.

The interactions can be complicated and can increase or decrease levels of HIV meds or other drugs.

It is therefore important that your HIV doctor and pharmacist know about other drugs or supplements that you take. Even if you use them rarely. Your doctor will treat this information in confidence.

Alcohol does not interact with HIV medications. However, alcohol use, as with recreational drug use, may reduce adherence.

Low adherence has been linked to how much alcohol someone drinks and the risk of treatment failure. This is something else that is good to discuss with your doctor.

Further information on recreational drugs and HIV meds:

• Fact sheet from the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital (PDF format).
• Leaflet from HIV group in Australia (PDF format).
• Links page for drug interaction websites.