How can I maintain adherence after I start
treatment?
Consider one or more of the
following strategies to help you
adhere to your regimen:
•
Use a 7-day pill box. Once a
week, ll the pill box with
your medications for the
entire week.
•
Take your medications at the
same time every day.
•
Use a timer, an alarm clock,
or your cell phone alarm to
remind you to take your
medications.
•
Ask your family members,
friends, or coworkers to remind
you to take your medications.
•
Keep your medications nearby.
Keep a backup supply of
medications at work or in
your purse or briefcase.
•
Plan ahead for changes in
your daily routine, including
weekends and holidays. If
you’re going away, pack enough
medications to last the
entire trip.
•
Use a medication diary to
stay on track. Write down the
name of each medication;
include the dose, number of pills
to take, and when to take
them. Check o each medication
as you take it. Reviewing
your diary will help you identify
the times you’re most likely
to skip medications.
•
Keep all your medical appointments.
Write down the date
and time of heath care
provider visits on your calendar or
daily schedule. If you run
low on medications before your
next visit, call your health
care provider to renew your
prescriptions.
•
Get additional tips on adherence
by joining a support
group for people living with
HIV.
What should I do if I forget
to take my
medications?
Unless your health care
provider tells you otherwise, take a
medication you missed as soon
as you realize you skipped it.
But if it’s almost time for
the next dose of the medication,
don’t take the missed dose
and just continue on your regular
medication schedule. Don’t
take a double dose of a
medication to make up for a
missed dose.
What should I do if I have
problems adhering
to my treatment regimen?
Tell your health care
provider that you’re having di
culty
following your regimen.
Together you can identify the
reasons why you’re skipping
medications.
Tell your health care
provider about any side eects from the
medications in your regimen.
Side eects are a major reason
treatment adherence can be di
cult. A regimen that involves
taking many pills at many
times during the day can also
make adherence di
cult.
Terms Used in This Fact
Sheet:
Regimen:
A combination of three or
more anti-HIV
medications from at least two
different drug classes.
T
reatment adherence:
Closely following an HIV
treatment
regimen—taking the correct
dose of each anti-HIV
medication at the correct
time and exactly as prescribed.
This information is based on the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services’
Guidelines for the Use of
Reviewed
Antiretroviral Agents in HIV-1-Infected
Adults and Adolescents
available at:
http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/guidelines
Based on why you’re having
problems with adherence, your
For more information:
health care provider may
adjust or change your regimen. (See
Contact an AIDS
info
health information specialist
at 1-800
the
Changing an HIV Treatment
Regimen
fact sheet.)
448-0440 or visit
http://aidsinfo.nih.gov
. See your health
care provider for medical
advice.
This information is based on the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services’
Guidelines for the Use of
Reviewed
Antiretroviral Agents in HIV-1-Infected
Adults and Adolescents
available at
http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/guidelines
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