Treatment

Treatment for HIV has proven highly effective, though there is still no cure. Treating HIV is a highly specialised discipline. Scotland enjoys an excellent reputation for quality of care and access.

Treatment research and development advance rapidly to keep pace with the constant adaptation of the virus to the medicines, and to meet the evolving needs of people living with HIV. Specialists in HIV link with each other in professional associations to produce guidance and best practice on treatment. SHIVAG acts as a networking body for HIV professionals in Scotland.

Five facts on HIV treatment

  1. Treatment must be in combinations of 3 different drugs from 2 different classes of drug
  2. There are 5 different groups or classes of HIV medication which block the virus at different stages in its replication
  3. Medication must be taken properly, every day every dose, as adherence to a treatment regimen is essential in avoiding resistance
  4. The average cost of HIV treatments for a year is £11,097 which is cost-effective in saving lives, improving quality of life, and preventing onward transmission especially from mother-to-child
  5. More drugs than ever before are in development for the treatment of HIV

In Scotland the 3,200 or so individuals in treatment (HPS) are cared for mainly by Hospital Infectious Diseases Units or by GUM or sexual health clinics. Primary care through GPs has become increasingly important, not only as positive people live longer, but also with the complexity of coping with co-morbidities Non_Infectious_Co_Morbidities_in_HIV.pdf [PDF - 494kB], co-infection hepatitis_ENG_2010.pdf [PDF - 686kB], drug interactions and side-effects. Good communication with patients and across the health and social care spectrum is vital.

Because people with HIV need health care for a range of other conditions not necessarily associated with HIV, there is a growing relevance of HIV competence and awareness to their practice.

Guidelines in the UK are developed by the British HIV Association (BHIVA), often in collaboration with other bodies such as MedFASH and BASHH.

For more information see

  • Aidsmap for useful information that you can trust
  • i-base guides for comprehensive and detailed information

Topics covered by guidelines

  1. Adherence
  2. When to start HIV treatment
  3. Changing HIV treatment because of side-effects
  4. Changing HIV treatment because it is not suppressing viral load
  5. Experience of HIV drugs
  6. Resistance testing
  7. Medical monitoring
  8. Side-effects
  9. How to treat people who also have Hepatitis B virus
  10. Hepatitis C virus

Living with HIV?

More people than ever are living with HIV in Scotland.

Find out more

Care

Most people with HIV in Scotland live a relatively normal life, day to day. Sometimes they may need a little extra support.

Find out more

Know someone with HIV?

It's not always easy to know what to do or say to help.

Find out more

Care

It is individual and takes a variety of forms including social, psychological, or health care. Most people with HIV in Scotland live a reasonably normal day-to-day life.

Find out more