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 onerous 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 may possibly progress to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or AIDS, which is a continual situation. There are HIV medicines, which might enhance the standard of life. Nonetheless, there are additionally unwanted effects of HIV medicine. Know all about their antagonistic 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 steadily 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 professional Dr Ankit Bansal. The virus is normally 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 line with the World Well being Group. Over time, if HIV isn’t handled, it may possibly result in AIDS, a situation wherein the immune system turns into severely weakened.

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

What are the signs of HIV?

Signs fluctuate 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. Persistent HIV (asymptomatic stage)

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

3. Development to AIDS

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

What are antiretroviral medicine?

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

Completely different courses of ARVs embrace:

• NRTIs (Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors) and NNRTIs (non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors) block reverse transcriptase, an enzyme HIV wants to duplicate.
• Protease Inhibitors (PIs) stop 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 professional.

What are the unwanted effects of HIV medicine?

They might assist to alleviate signs of HIV, however they’re unwanted 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 professional. They’ll alter the chemical indicators within the mind’s vomiting heart (chemoreceptor set off zone), particularly early in therapy when the physique continues to be adjusting to the brand new drugs.

2. Diarrhea

Generally, 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 free stools, one of many unwanted effects of HIV medicine. Diarrhea may additionally consequence from gentle irritation of the intestinal lining.

3. Fatigue

Fatigue, one of many unwanted effects of HIV medicine, might be attributable to mitochondrial toxicity, the place ARVs (particularly older NRTIs like zidovudine) harm energy-producing elements in cells. “The immune system’s response to HIV and the emotional toll of dwelling with a continual sickness additionally contribute to persistent tiredness,” says the professional.

4. Pores and skin rashes

Rashes are usually as a result 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 might 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 unwanted effects of HIV medicine. Sure medicine could cause an overload or poisonous buildup in liver cells, resulting in irritation or liver enzyme elevations. “Folks with pre-existing liver illness (like hepatitis B or C) are extra susceptible,” says the professional.

6. Kidney issues

A few of the HIV Medication like tenofovir disoproxil fumarate can harm tiny filtering items within the kidneys, affecting their means to take away waste. This could result in a decline in kidney perform, particularly in long-term use. One of many long-term unwanted effects of HIV medicine is kidney failure, in line with analysis revealed in StatPearls.

7. Temper adjustments

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

Methods to stop the unwanted effects of HIV medicine?

Right here’s what you are able to do to forestall the unwanted 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 unwanted effects of HIV medicine.
• Diarrhea: Preserve 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 an excellent night time’s sleep, observe a balanced weight loss plan, and have interaction in gentle bodily exercise.
• Pores and skin rashes: Gentle rashes might be handled with antihistamines, however extreme reactions might require a change in treatment.
• Liver toxicity: To forestall one of many unwanted effects of HIV medicine, keep away from alcohol and monitor liver perform usually.
• Kidney issues: Common kidney assessments, enough water consumption, and dose changes may also help stop kidney challenge, one of many unwanted effects of HIV medicine.
• Temper adjustments: Keep away from stimulants earlier than mattress, take into account altering drugs after checking together with your physician, and search psychological well being assist as wanted.

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