World AIDS Vaccine Day 2025: 7 side effects of HIV drugs

Human immunodeficiency virus or HIV is a virus that makes your immune system so weak that it turns into exhausting for it to battle off even minor diseases. 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 therapy on time, it could actually progress to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or AIDS, which is a persistent situation. There are HIV medicines, which might enhance the standard of life. Nonetheless, there are additionally uncomfortable side effects of HIV medicine. Know all about their opposed results on World AIDS Vaccine Day, also referred to as 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 regularly destroys CD4 cells (also referred to as T-helper cells), that are important for preventing off infections and ailments,” says inside medication and infectious ailments skilled 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 significant 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 just isn’t handled, it could actually result in AIDS, a situation through which the immune system turns into severely weakened.

There is no such thing as a HIV vaccine authorised by the US Meals and Drug Administration. Nonetheless, lately two HIV vaccine trials have been performed within the US and Africa. A examine, primarily based on these trials and revealed in Science in Could 2025, discovered that the vaccines have been typically protected and effectively tolerated. Solely 18 p.c of the individuals skilled pores and skin reactions.

What are the signs of HIV?

Signs differ 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. Continual HIV (asymptomatic stage)

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

3. Development to AIDS

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

What are antiretroviral medicine?

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

Totally different lessons of ARVs embrace:

• 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 mixing of viral DNA into the host’s genome.
• Entry and Fusion Inhibitors block the virus from getting into cells.

“Mixture remedy (3 or extra medicine) is the usual strategy to cut back resistance and guarantee efficient viral suppression in individuals with HIV,” says the skilled.

What are the uncomfortable side effects of HIV medicine?

They might assist to alleviate signs of HIV, however they’re uncomfortable side effects of HIV medicine:

1. Nausea and vomiting

“Many ARVs are metabolised within the liver or gastrointestinal tract, and a few irritate the abdomen lining,” says the skilled. They’ll alter the chemical indicators within the mind’s vomiting heart (chemoreceptor set off zone), particularly early in therapy 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 uncomfortable side effects of HIV medicine. Diarrhea might also end result from gentle irritation of the intestinal lining.

3. Fatigue

Fatigue, one of many uncomfortable side effects of HIV medicine, will 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 skilled.

4. Pores and skin rashes

Rashes are sometimes as a consequence of hypersensitivity (allergic) reactions to the medicine. The immune system sees the treatment as a menace, and so, triggers irritation within the pores and skin. Some rashes will 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 uncomfortable side effects of HIV medicine. Sure medicine could 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 weak,” says the skilled.

6. Kidney issues

A number of the HIV Medicine like tenofovir disoproxil fumarate can injury tiny filtering items within the kidneys, affecting their capability to take away waste. This may result in a decline in kidney operate, particularly in long-term use. One of many long-term uncomfortable side effects of HIV medicine is kidney failure, in accordance with analysis revealed in StatPearls.

7. Temper modifications

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

Easy methods to forestall the uncomfortable side effects of HIV medicine?

Right here’s what you are able to do to forestall the uncomfortable side effects of HIV medicine:

• Nausea and vomiting: Take ARVs with meals (if allowed), eat smaller, frequent meals, and use anti-nausea drugs to keep away from these uncomfortable side effects of HIV medicine.
• Diarrhea: Keep 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 a superb night time’s sleep, observe a balanced weight loss plan, and have interaction in gentle bodily exercise.
• Pores and skin rashes: Gentle rashes will be handled with antihistamines, however extreme reactions might require a swap in treatment.
• Liver toxicity: To stop one of many uncomfortable side effects of HIV medicine, keep away from alcohol and monitor liver operate commonly.
• Kidney issues: Common kidney checks, sufficient water consumption, and dose changes might help forestall kidney subject, one of many uncomfortable side effects of HIV medicine.
• Temper modifications: Keep away from stimulants earlier than mattress, think about altering drugs after checking along with your physician, and search psychological well being assist as wanted.

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