The viruses in your body can become resistant to one or more of your anti-HIV medications.
Every time a virus copies itself, there is a chance that the copy will be slightly different to the one before. This mutation can result in new viral strains that are less susceptible to medication. These drug-resistant strains will continue to reproduce despite treatment.
Before starting treatment, your blood tests may involve drug resistance testing, to check that you have not been infected with a virus that is already resistant to some medications. If your viral load increases while you are taking medications, you may be tested for drug resistance too.
Stay one step ahead
Having an undetectable viral load is the best way to avoid drug resistance. Click here for more information on undetectable viral loads That's because fewer viruses mean fewer mutations. You already know how to keep your viral load down:
1. Strength in numbers.
Combination therapy can help minimise resistance because it is harder for a virus to become resistant to two or three drugs at the same time. Remember that some tablets contain more than one type of drug, so even if you're taking three drugs a day, you may only be taking two different types of tablet a day.
2. Follow the rules.
Adherence helps you keep the right drug levels all the time, to prevent your medication from failing due to drug resistance.
