HIV and your quality of life
A guide to side effects and better long term health.
This guide now focuses as much on getting the best quality of life as it does on side effects. The printed leaflet is now a guide to the information online.
Introduction
1. General information
- What are side effects and why do they occur?
- Starting ART – and using meds for the first time
- Talking to your doctor about side effects
- Side effects diary
- Using the Yellow Card scheme
- How side effects are graded
- Drug levels, genetics and drug level monitoring (TDM)
- Changing HIV drugs
- Side effects and adherence
- You and your doctor
2. Individual symptoms and side effects
- Weight changes on ART
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fatigue – feeling tired
- Diarrhoea
- Insomnia – disturbed sleep
- Mental health and well-being
- Sexual health and well-being
- CNS side effects: mood changes, anxiety, dizziness, sleep disturbance
- Increased bilirubin and jaundice (yellow skin and/or eyes)
- Kidney toxicity including kidney stones
- Skin rash
- Dry skin, nail problems, hair loss
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Liver-related side effects
- Lactic acidosis and pancreatitis
- T-20: injection site reactions (ISRs) and other side effects
- Lipodystrophy (changes in fat distribution)
- Fat loss (lipoatrophy)
- Fat accumulation
- Cholesterol and triglycerides
- Increased blood-sugar levels and risk of type 2 diabetes
- HIV and fatty liver disease
- Abacavir hypersensitivity reaction
- Non HIV drugs
3. Lifestyle, quality of life and healthy ageing
- HIV and ageing
- Heart disease
- Bone health
- HIV and cancer
- Lifestyle factors and your health
- Diet: a balanced diet and your health
- Exercise and staying active
4. Further information and references
Feedback
Credits
Glossary
Quotes
About our guides
Information about how we produced this guide and the importance of using language that is direct and easy to understand.
This includes information on how to write non technical medical information that may be useful as a resource for other organisations.
Last updated: 1 March 2023.