When the earliest cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) began appearing in the 1980s, being diagnosed with this condition was devastatingly life-threatening. Without an effective way to control the virus, it inevitably progressed into AIDS and was ultimately fatal. Although HIV remains a life-altering condition today, the outlook is far better now than it was decades ago thanks to advances in treatment.
Here, we look at how the medical community has revolutionized the way HIV is treated, and how ongoing care can allow you to lead a long, healthy life even if you’re HIV positive.
A Look into Leading HIV Treatment Approaches
Antiretroviral Therapy (ART)
Antiretroviral medications are the gold standard for HIV treatment. These drugs work by targeting the virus and slowing its development. While ART won’t eliminate the virus from your body entirely, oftentimes, they can suppress it to the point at which it’s no longer detectable even in a blood test. When ART works as it should, it can unlock many years of wellness for people who have HIV, while also reducing the risk of transmission to others.
There are many types of ART available, which is valuable because in some cases, it’s possible for HIV to mutate and start resisting one medication. For this reason, healthcare providers often prescribe multiple drugs at a time. But medical advancements have reduced the number of pills you’d need to take, with some medications offering multiple drugs in a single tablet. Years ago, people with HIV had to take as much or more than 20 pills a day, many of which came with unpleasant side effects.
Long-Acting Injections
Once your viral load — or the amount of HIV in your body — has dropped to the point where it’s no longer detectable, you may be able to switch from oral medications to a fairly new treatment: injectable therapy. Through this approach, you’d receive two shots every one to two months instead of having to take any pills. As with oral tablets, there are several types of injections available, each of which works differently to suppress the virus.
PEP
If you think you’ve been exposed to HIV within the last 72 hours, post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is an emergency medication that can reduce your risk of developing HIV. It should not be used regularly or as an alternative to prevention, but it can reduce your risk by up to 80% should unforeseen exposure occur.
PrEP
While it’s not a treatment for people who are already HIV positive, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a preventative medication that can protect you from getting HIV in the first place. Another fairly recent medical development, when taken as prescribed this drug can reduce your risk of contracting HIV via penetrative sex by up to 99%, and up to 74% if sharing needles. As a reminder however, the best prevention is to avoid having unprotected penetrative sex with someone who could be HIV positive, and to never share needles.
New HIV Treatments On the Horizon
In addition to the advancements we’ve seen through the past decades, there are also new HIV treatment options currently being studied. Researchers are looking at how HIV persists and reactivates in the body, which could eventually pave the way for a complete cure. They’re also exploring treatment alternatives that achieve remission without ART, which could be available soon.
Further, a vaccine is in development which could help to boost the immune system in people who have HIV, potentially stopping the progression to AIDS without the need for ART. Lastly, researchers are studying gene editing, an evolving technology that changes a person’s genetic code. In this approach, a one-time treatment would be used to cure the disease entirely.
Schedule an Appointment With YourTown Health
As your partners in total wellness, YourTown Health offers services to aid in HIV prevention as well as treatment programs and support at reduced costs. Find out more about our testing and treatment options by calling 770-463-4644, or send us a message online.
