Sufferers of HIV are able to access a much better range of treatments these days compared to what was on offer 20 years ago. Some form of treatment has existed since the early days HIV however it has not always been that easy for people to get hold of particularly in such countries as India and Africa. One such medicine that was widely available for the treatment of HIV was AZT. It was used to slow the effects of HIV it did pose a risk for some patients because of possible side effects. Known side effects included a loss of appetite, headaches and nausea.
The treatment of HIV is not an easy task as the virus can mutate quickly therefore rendering any one type of medication useless. To combat this HIV patient should take more than one treatment so that the body doesn’t adapt too quickly; this is known as combination therapy. This is necessary as HIV cells make copies of themselves and then spread through to infect other cells which results in a terrible decline in the body’s immune system. If the right combination of drugs is strung together then the HIV cells have less of a chance to adapt. If only one drug is administered then the virus has only to make a small change to fend it off.
Combination drugs treatment is an important step forward when it comes to fighting HIV. In fact trials have been undertaken across European countries which have shown that death rates have fallen by a staggering 80% since 1997. This is an amazing step forward and it means that people who are suffering with HIV will be able to live longer and healthier lives. Combination treatment is adding an additional ten years to the lives of many people.
There are many drugs out there that are helpful at treating the HIV virus. In fact there are about 20 different antiretroviral drugs however they are not all available in any one country.
Modern treatments for HIV can greatly prolong a person’s life, they might even live up to normal life expectancy. Quite often in modern times patients are entitled to free treatment. To qualify they must prove that they are below the poverty line.
There are some extraordinary breakthroughs in HIV treatment and this can only improve as the years go by. Many of the side effects associated with older drug treatments are a thing of past.