Side Effects of HIV Drugs

Table of Contents

• Side Effects and HIV Drugs
• Being Informed About Side Effects Helps
• Women and Side Effects
• Milder Side Effects
• More Serious Side Effects
• Other Possible Side Effects
• Side Effects or Toxicities During Pregnancy
• Taking Care of Yourself

Side Effects and HIV Drugs

Over the years, many HIV drugs have been developed that help people live longer, healthier lives. Like all drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration, HIV drugs are tested to make sure they are safe and effective in treating HIV. However, HIV drugs can also cause some effects that are different from what they were developed to do. These are called side effects. In most cases, the side effects of HIV drugs are mild, like a headache or an upset stomach. In some cases, however, more serious side effects like liver damage or peripheral neuropathy can occur.

Side effects are most common during the first four to six weeks you are taking a new HIV medication. After your body gets used to the new drug, the side effects usually get better or go away. Other side effects may show up later or last longer. There may also be long-term side effects we do not know about yet. Many of the HIV drugs have not been on the market long enough for us to know all the possible long-term effects.

Being Informed About Side Effects Helps

Each HIV drug comes with information on its most common side effects. It can help to read this information. However, remember that this information lists side effects you might experience, not side effects you will experience. While all HIV drugs can cause side effects, not everyone will experience every side effect of each drug, and not everyone will experience the side effect(s) the same way.

Speak to your health care provider about side effects before starting a new treatment. It will help if you know what to expect and how to handle any problems that arise. Some important points:

• Find out what side effects are possible for any new drug you are taking.
• Ask if there are ways of taking the drug that make it easier to tolerate -- for example with or without food or at a certain time of day, such as bedtime.
• Find out if you can treat mild side effects with home remedies, over-the-counter medications, or prescription drugs and have these treatments on hand, especially for common side effects like diarrhea and nausea.
• Ask when you should get medical attention for a side effect.
• Let your health care provider know if you are experiencing side effects, especially if you are taking a drug that may cause a particularly serious problem.

Whether your side effects are considered mild or serious, if they are getting in the way of you taking your HIV drugs (see TWP info sheet on adherence), they are a very important concern. If you do experience side effects, do not just stop taking your medication. Talk to your health care provider, who will help you by suggesting ways to address the side effect directly, changing the dose of the drug, or switching drugs.

Women and Side Effects

Although the total number of side effects among people on HIV drugs does not differ a lot between men and women, some side effects (listed below) appear to be more common in women living with HIV (HIV+) than in men.

This may be due to the fact that women have higher levels of certain HIV drugs in their bloodstreams, even though they take the same doses as men. A woman's smaller body size, metabolism, or hormones may cause the higher levels. For example, with the protease inhibitor (PI), Norvir (ritonavir), women seem to experience more nausea, vomiting, and weakness than men.

Despite some differences in drug levels and side effects, women seem to benefit as much from HIV therapy as men. No changes in dosing have been recommended for women.