Starting Treatment

Getting an HIV diagnosis doesn’t necessarily mean starting treatment! Guidelines on when to start treatment are reviewed regularly by the British HIV and AIDS Association, (BHIVA) Basically the benefits of taking these drugs to improve health have to be balanced against the problems that may be associated with taking drugs for a long period of time.

Regular monitoring of CD4 count and Viral Load guide when is best to start. You would want to discuss this with your consultant, health counsellor or treatment advisor. This is why it is important to go for regular blood test if you are living with HIV.

You might want to talk to other people living with HIV about their experiences of ARVs through self-help groups or local agencies. See our guide section for local details. You could also find some information for yourself on the many websites dealing with HIV. See our links section for details.