Side effects

Any drug can cause side effects, or unwanted effects. These can be divided into different types: allergic reactions and short-term side effects; ongoing side effects; and long-term toxicities or effects which can develop over a number of years.

Not everyone gets side effects from their drugs and not everyone experiences the same side effects, many are quite rare.

It’s hard to estimate how often people develop different side effects as estimates and studies show varying figures. Most anti-HIV treatments are known to cause diarrhoea, headaches and gastrointestinal upset to some degree, but these side effects are often easily managed and in most cases reduce over time. If you start treatment with a low CD4 count or high viral load, side effects may be more of an issue, and need pre-planning for effective management.

Allergic side effects or ‘adverse reactions’ to a drug are unpredictable – a few people may suffer them, but the majority won’t. Adverse reactions can occur when the immune system reacts badly to a drug and the symptoms are usually a rash or fever.

Often, these symptoms will resolve themselves, but if you develop a rash when beginning a drug, seek medical advice as on rare occasions some allergic reactions can be dangerous. You may be able to treat the rash with antihistamines, or by slowly increasing your dose as your body gets used to the drug.

However, wherever a drug has been shown to potentially cause adverse reactions, it will be accompanied by a warning. Your doctor will also advise you about it, and what to do if something like a hypersensitivity rash occurs.

Direct reactions to the drugs can cause a range of, sometimes ongoing, side effects which can vary from mild (headache or occasional diarrhoea) to more serious. There are also some problems which may develop over time, like numbing of the fingers and toes, abnormalities in liver function, or abnormal redistribution of fat throughout your body.

Your doctor may prescribe other medicines (like anti-diarrhoea or nausea medications) to help deal with some of these. Many people report that some simple complementary therapies are useful in controlling side effects: talk to an HIV-experienced dietician for advice. Referrals will be available through your doctor or AIDS council treatments officer.

Information on this page is from HIV Tests and Treatments, AFAO, 4th edition 2009.