CHECK Magazin - Gesundheitsmagazin für Männer No.15

HIV
For example, there are active substances
in HIV medications that can influence the
patient’s lipid metabolism by increasing
blood lipid levels or body fat on internal
organs. Other drugs, in turn, are broken
down via the liver and may have an effect
on liver function. While this can happen, it
does not have to. In any case, it is important
to remain vigilant and watch for changes in
your own body.
To minimise the likelihood of such long-term
side effects of HIV medications, it is important
as an HIV-positive person to develop
your own awareness of what you are feeding
your body. A single drug may contain several
active ingredients – and each of these active
ingredients basically has the potential to
be responsible for a possible side effect.
Here, there is an opportunity to positively
impact your quality of life by switching HIV
medications. Together with the specialist
doctor, it may be possible to find a therapy
that reduces the risk of health problems in
the long term, ensuring that the long-term
quality of life is maintained.
To minimise the likelihood of such
long-term side effects of HIV medications,
it is important as an HIVpositive
person to develop your
own awareness of what you are
feeding your body.
Modern HIV therapies can reduce the
risk of interactions
In HIV therapy, a tablet consists of several
– up to four different –active ingredients
that block the replication of the virus
at different points. Thanks to their high
efficacy, the number of active ingredients
required in HIV therapy has been further
reduced in recent years, which can reduce
the risk of interactions of HIV drugs with
other substances and medications, as well
as possible side effects.
While at least three or four active substances
were combined for HIV therapy
from the mid-1990s onwards, modern
combinations with two active substances
are also recommended today in the
German guidelines for HIV therapy 3 – which
physicians use as a guide when selecting
medications.
Early engagement with the therapy
brings many advantages
As an HIV-positive person, it is advisable to
deal with one’s own therapy at an early stage
and not to wait until old age to do so. Even at
a younger age, when concomitant diseases
are still the exception rather than the rule,
you can already benefit from critically questioning
the composition of your medication
and the number of substances you take, and
checking their respective necessity together
with your doctor.
Avoiding side effects and interactions
to maintain your own quality of life
In order to avoid side effects and interactions
of HIV therapy, being open when talking
with the doctor is particularly important:
in this way, a therapy is selected together
which can keep the risk of health problems
caused by the HIV medication as low as
possible.
If you, as an HIV-positive person, consciously
deal with your own therapy and proactively
talk about it with your doctor, this can help
to avoid unnecessary stress on your own
body and improve your own long-term
quality of life.
You can find more information and
personal stories about living with HIV at
www.livlife.de
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3 Deutsch-Österreichische Leitlinien für Diagnostik und
Therapie der HIV-Infektion, Version 9 vom 03.09.2020.
29 CHECK MAG #15