ARV (anti-retroviral) treatment for HIV/AIDS has shown great promise in slowing the disease's progress and prolonging the lives of patients. Health care providers have more than 30 drugs from which to choose for this regimen.
Identification
ARV therapy is the use of several drugs for the treatment of HIV/AIDS at different stages of the disease. The drugs come from different classes, or groups, of drugs approved for use to battle HIV/AIDS.
Function
The drugs used in ARV therapy do come with some side effects, the most common of which are diarrhea, tiredness and headaches.
Time Frame
Studies over the past 10 years have shown that ARV therapy is effective in combating the disease's progression.
Considerations
Each of the drugs used in ARV therapy is given at different dosages. Your health care provider will work with you in determining the proper regimen. The annual cost for these drugs is approximately $3,000.
Warning
There is no cure for HIV/AIDS. ARV therapy has shown promise as a way to stop the disease's replication and prolong the life of patients by boosting the immune system.
Tags: drugs used, drugs used therapy, treatment AIDS, used therapy