Medication treatment

The standard treatment for HIV is a combination of medicines called antiretroviral therapy, or ART. Antiretroviral medicines slow the rate at which the virus multiplies.

Taking these medicines can reduce the amount of virus in your body and help you stay healthy.
Medical experts recommend that people begin treatment for HIV as soon as they know that they are infected.

To monitor the HIV infection and its effect on your immune system, a doctor will regularly do two tests:

• Viral load, which shows the amount of virus in your blood.
• CD4+ cell count, which shows how well your immune system is working.

After you start treatment, it's important to take your medicines exactly as directed by your doctor. When treatment doesn't work, it is often because HIV has become unaffected by the medicine. This can happen if you don't take your medicines correctly

List of antiretroviral therapy medicines serviced by Specialty Pharmacy (PDF)