World AIDS Vaccine Day 2025: 7 unintended effects of HIV medication

Human immunodeficiency virus or HIV is a virus that makes your immune system so weak that it turns into onerous for it to battle off even minor sicknesses. That’s why individuals affected by this virus get infections and fall unwell simply. If the virus begins attacking your immune system, and also you don’t go for remedy on time, it might probably progress to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or AIDS, which is a persistent situation. There are HIV medicines, which might enhance the standard of life. Nevertheless, there are additionally unintended effects of HIV medication. Know all about their opposed results on World AIDS Vaccine Day, also called HIV Vaccine Consciousness Day, noticed on Could 18.

What’s HIV?

Human immunodeficiency virus is a virus that particularly targets the immune system. “It assaults and progressively destroys CD4 cells (also called T-helper cells), that are important for combating off infections and ailments,” says inner drugs and infectious ailments professional Dr Ankit Bansal. The virus is often transmitted by particular physique fluids like blood, semen, vaginal and rectal fluids, and breast milk.

It stays a serious well being concern, because it has taken lives of roughly 42.3 million individuals, in accordance with the World Well being Group. Over time, if HIV isn’t handled, it might probably result in AIDS, a situation during which the immune system turns into severely weakened.

There isn’t a HIV vaccine accredited by the US Meals and Drug Administration. Nevertheless, just lately two HIV vaccine trials had been performed within the US and Africa. A research, primarily based on these trials and printed in Science in Could 2025, discovered that the vaccines had been typically secure and nicely tolerated. Solely 18 % of the contributors skilled pores and skin reactions.

What are the signs of HIV?

Signs range relying on the stage of an infection:

1. Acute HIV An infection (2–4 weeks post-infection)

• Fever
• Fatigue
• Rash
• Sore throat
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Headache
• Muscle aches
• Mouth ulcers

2. Power HIV (asymptomatic stage)

• Typically no signs
• Virus is lively, however reproduces at very low ranges

3. Development to AIDS

• Fast weight reduction
• Recurring fever or profuse night time sweats
• Excessive fatigue
• Lengthy-lasting diarrhea
• Sores within the mouth, anus or genitals
• Pneumonia
• Reminiscence loss
• Despair

What are antiretroviral medication?

Antiretroviral medication (ARVs) are drugs that deal with HIV by blocking completely different phases of the virus’ life cycle, stopping it from multiplying within the physique. “ARVs don’t remedy HIV however assist scale back the viral load, enhance immune operate, and forestall transmission,” says Dr Bansal.

Completely different courses of ARVs embody:

• NRTIs (Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors) and NNRTIs (non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors) block reverse transcriptase, an enzyme HIV wants to copy.
• Protease Inhibitors (PIs) forestall viral protein processing.
• Integrase inhibitors cease the combination of viral DNA into the host’s genome.
• Entry and Fusion Inhibitors block the virus from getting into cells.

“Mixture remedy (3 or extra medication) is the usual method to scale back resistance and guarantee efficient viral suppression in individuals with HIV,” says the professional.

What are the unintended effects of HIV medication?

They could assist to alleviate signs of HIV, however they’re unintended effects of HIV medication:

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1. Nausea and vomiting

“Many ARVs are metabolised within the liver or gastrointestinal tract, and a few irritate the abdomen lining,” says the professional. They’ll alter the chemical indicators within the mind’s vomiting heart (chemoreceptor set off zone), particularly early in remedy when the physique remains to be adjusting to the brand new drugs.

2. Diarrhea

Typically, ARVs have an effect on the intestine lining or alter the steadiness of regular intestine micro organism. This results in elevated water secretion into the intestines or decreased absorption, inflicting unfastened stools, one of many unintended effects of HIV medication. Diarrhea might also outcome from gentle irritation of the intestinal lining.

3. Fatigue

Fatigue, one of many unintended effects of HIV medication, might be attributable to mitochondrial toxicity, the place ARVs (particularly older NRTIs like zidovudine) injury energy-producing elements in cells. “The immune system’s response to HIV and the emotional toll of dwelling with a persistent sickness additionally contribute to persistent tiredness,” says the professional.

4. Pores and skin rashes

Rashes are usually because of hypersensitivity (allergic) reactions to the medication. The immune system sees the medicine as a menace, and so, triggers irritation within the pores and skin. Some rashes might be extreme, like Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, which might additionally trigger your pores and skin to develop blisters after which peel.

5. Liver toxicity

The liver processes most ARVs, making liver toxicity one of many unintended effects of HIV medication. Sure medication may cause an overload or poisonous buildup in liver cells, resulting in irritation or liver enzyme elevations. “Individuals with pre-existing liver illness (like hepatitis B or C) are extra susceptible,” says the professional.

6. Kidney issues

Among the HIV Medicine like tenofovir disoproxil fumarate can injury tiny filtering items within the kidneys, affecting their means to take away waste. This may result in a decline in kidney operate, particularly in long-term use. One of many long-term unintended effects of HIV medication is kidney failure, in accordance with analysis printed in StatPearls.

7. Temper adjustments

“Some ARVs, significantly efavirenz, can cross the blood-brain barrier and have an effect on neurotransmitters within the mind,” says Dr Bansal. This will likely result in insomnia, anxiousness, melancholy, and even hallucinations in some circumstances.

The best way to forestall the unintended effects of HIV medication?

Right here’s what you are able to do to stop the unintended effects of HIV medication:

• Nausea and vomiting: Take ARVs with meals (if allowed), eat smaller, frequent meals, and use anti-nausea drugs to keep away from these unintended effects of HIV medication.
• Diarrhea: Preserve hydration, keep away from greasy or spicy meals, and take anti-diarrheal brokers after getting the inexperienced sign out of your physician.
• Fatigue: Make sure you get night time’s sleep, comply with a balanced weight loss plan, and have interaction in gentle bodily exercise.
• Pores and skin rashes: Gentle rashes might be handled with antihistamines, however extreme reactions could require a change in medicine.
• Liver toxicity: To forestall one of many unintended effects of HIV medication, keep away from alcohol and monitor liver operate usually.
• Kidney issues: Common kidney exams, ample water consumption, and dose changes might help forestall kidney problem, one of many unintended effects of HIV medication.
• Temper adjustments: Keep away from stimulants earlier than mattress, think about altering drugs after checking together with your physician, and search psychological well being assist as wanted.

HIV medication might help to handle the situation, and assist individuals dwelling with the virus to guide wholesome lives. Sure, there are unintended effects of HIV medication, however might be successfully managed with common follow-ups and some modifications.