THE
TREATMENTS
FOR
HIV AND AIDS
How people can prevent and control their HIV
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[TR8]
HIV AND AIDS PREVENTION
Taking these measures are
the best defenses against HIV.
[TR9]
Some simple ways people can prevent getting HIV are:
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Every time you have sex, use a new condom
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If you are injecting drugs with a needle, make sure it is clean
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For males, circumcision has shown to reduce their chance of getting HIV [TR1]
Another way to prevent HIV is by taking a type of drug called PrEP.
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P
r
E
P
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis is a method used by people who are at high risk of getting HIV. These people at high risk include partners of HIV positive individuals and those who share needles. Those who use the PrEP method, take HIV medication in order to lower their chances of getting the virus. In order for this to be effective, an individual takes a drug daily called Truvada.
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Truvada is a combination of 2 other HIV drugs: tenofovir and emtricitabine.
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This drug works by creating barriers around the CD4 cells so if HIV does get in the body, it has no way to infect or reproduce.
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PrEP has been proven to reduce the risk of getting HIV from sex by 90% and 70% from injecting drugs.
Scientists and doctors have made it clear
that in order for PrEP to work, Truvada
needs to be taken consistently. [TR2]
[TR10]
HIV AND AIDS TREATMENTS
Once you have been diagnosed,
treatments need to be started immediately.
[TR11]
P
E
P
Unlike PrEP, Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) is used by people who think they have recently contracted HIV. PEP is when potential HIV positive people begin taking medicines from Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) in order to try and prevent infection. In order to be effective, PEP has to be started within 72 hours of when you think you got the virus and needs to be taken consistently for 28 days.
PEP is only for emergency situations and is not a replacement for the preventative methods listed above. [TR3]
A
RT
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[TR12]
Antiretroviral Therapy is a combination of different HIV treatments that those with the virus take on a daily basis. Since HIV cannot be cured, the purpose of ART is to reduce a person’s viral load. If the viral load is reduced to an undetectable level and their HIV can’t be detected by a viral load test, the chance of transmission is greatly reduced. This also slows to transition from HIV to AIDS. The combination of medicines that a person takes is unique to every individual. [TR4]
HIV medicines are grouped into seven different drug classes depending on how they stop HIV:
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Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NNRTIs): blocks an HIV enzyme so it can’t replicate
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Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTIs): blocks an HIV enzyme so it can’t replicate
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Protease Inhibitors (PIs): block an HIV enzyme so immature HIV can’t mature and infect other cells
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Fusion Inhibitors: stop the virus from merging with the CD4 so the HIV can’t enter the cell
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CCR5 Antagonists: block receptors on the CD4 cell so the HIV can’t enter the cell
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Post-Attachment Inhibitors: stops the virus from being able to attach to CD4 receptors and enter the cell
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Integrase Strand Transfer Inhibitors (INSTIs): stops HIV integrase so the HIV can’t replicate. [TR5]
Typically, a person will start their therapy off with 3 HIV medicines from at least 2 different classes. [TR4]
[TR7]
M
I
C
R
O
B
I
C
I
D
E
S
A new method of HIV prevention that researchers are working on are microbicides. Microbicides are products containing antiretroviral drugs that could be inserted into the vagina or rectum. These microbicides come in many forms including gels, vaginal rings, and inserts, among many other ones going through trials. Studies have shown this form of prevention to be very successful in women. For example, a study from 2016 found that the vaginal ring reduced the risk of HIV infection by 61%.
Microbicides are an important step in HIV prevention because it gives people, especially women, a way to discreetly protect themselves. [TR6]
VAGINAL RING
[TR13]
GEL
[TR14]
IMPLANTS
[TR15]
HOVER OVER ME
AN INTERVIEW WITH AN HIV POSITIVE PERSON
"How long have you been HIV positive?
I have been living with HIV for almost 26 years. I was infected at 16 and diagnosed at 18. It was 1991. After 10 years of not getting treatment and refusing it, I was diagnosed with AIDS. I also had cancer in my uterus.
Why did you finally decide to get care?
I was diagnosed with AIDS with a T-cell count of 39. I also had cancer in my uterus. This is why I decided to get on medication. I just wanted to live. I was given one month to live if I didn’t start my medications. I am so glad I chose to live, because I love life. I was a caterpillar that turned into a butterfly that is going all over the world spreading the message of hope! My mission is simple: Give hope to the hopeless and save lives by sharing my life story. I also have accomplished many important things. I have the love of my life, Lisa; family; and friends that love me. Most importantly, I love myself!
[TR16]
What do you think is the biggest misconception about living with HIV/AIDS?
What is your advice to women and girls who have recently been diagnosed with HIV?
I want them to understand that there is life after HIV/AIDS. The most important things are to love yourself, take your medicine, and live a very healthy lifestyle. I have come so far! I will never give up. You have to fight till your last breath. On hard days, I know my spirit is stronger than my body. I am a very spiritual human being, and this helps me keep on trucking.
