What does ART mean in PRESCRIPTION

An antiretroviral (ART) is a medication used to treat and prevent HIV infection and AIDS. Antiretrovirals are designed to reduce the amount of virus in the body, so that the immune system can function more effectively. ART cannot cure HIV, but it helps improve quality of life by reducing symptoms and preventing further damage from HIV infection.

Antiretrovirals stop replication of the virus inside infected cells. They also block new infections and slow down progression of HIV/AIDS. ART does this by targeting crucial steps in the virus's life cycle, such as preventing it from entering cells or replicating its genetic material, so that fewer copies of the virus remain in the body over time.

Anyone with an HIV infection should be taking antiretroviral drugs as part of a comprehensive treatment plan, which usually includes nutrition and lifestyle modifications. Additionally, anyone at high risk for HIV infection — such as those engaging in unprotected sex or sharing needles for intravenous drug use — should consider taking pre-exposure prophylaxis medications to help protect against infection.

All medications have potential side effects, including antiretrovirals used to treat or prevent HIV/AIDS. Common side effects include nausea, headaches, dizziness, fatigue, stomach cramps and diarrhea. In rare cases, long-term use can cause kidney damage or liver failure due to accumulation of toxic levels of certain metabolites produced by certain drugs. Talk to your doctor about any concerns you may have regarding your treatments.

Generally speaking no special diet is necessary when taking antiretrovirals; however some medications may interact with specific types food and beverages such as grapefruit juice and dairy products so it is important to discuss any dietary restrictions specific to your treatment plan with your doctor or pharmacist before beginning therapy.

The time frame for seeing results from ART varies from person to person depending upon factors such as overall health status before starting therapy, adherence to prescribed regimens, whether pre-existing drug resistance has been established etc., Generally speaking most patients will see improvements in their overall health within one month but full response times can go up to three months in some cases.

While effective use of ART dramatically reduces transmission rates of HIV between individuals it cannot completely eliminate the risk altogether so always practice safe sex even if you are on regular treatment for HIV management or prevention.

Yes regular medical checkups are still necessary even while undergoing active anti-retro viral therapy since other factors could affect patient outcome such as underlying diseases like diabetes etc., Your doctor will advise you accordingly.