Guides

Changing your HIV drugs

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Sometimes is takes your body a few weeks to get used to new medicines.

Often, mild symptoms will settle down. Some side effects become much easier after the first few days or maybe weeks.

But if side effects are more serious or difficult it is easy to switch drugs.

Changing to another treatment will not affect your future options.

  • Switching drugs can improve your quality of life.
  • Your viral load will still stay undetectable.
  • You can always change back to these drugs if you want to.

The decision to change treatment in order to manage side effects will depend on:

  • Which other drugs are available.
  • Whether the side effects are likely to get better.
  • Whether the symptoms are related to your meds.

Close monitoring after changing a drug will help you know whether it caused your symptoms.

Never just stop or interrupt treatment without contacting your doctor first.

Last updated: 1 November 2021.