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What to Do About Drug Resistance
At this time, drug resistance cannot be stopped, but it can be slowed or avoided. By taking certain precautions, the risk of developing resistance can be reduced. The most effective method is to adhere properly to antiretroviral therapy just as it was prescribed by taking medication on time, every day. Another method, a more recent strategy, is referred to as treatment sequencing; this approach involves long-term treatment planning to manage treatment failure and drug resistance.
The Value of Adherence:
With the strict dosing schedule and challenging side effects that come with HIV therapy, many people have a hard time taking their medications properly. But proper adherence, or taking medications exactly as prescribed, is vital to the success of antiretroviral treatment. Partial adherence can lead to partial viral suppression, allowing resistant strains of the virus to emerge and grow.
The Strategy of Treatment Sequencing:
Treatment sequencing is basically a long-term strategic approach to antiretroviral therapy. By utilizing information that is known about how resistance develops when certain drugs are used, healthcare providers can formulate combinations of drugs that will preserve more treatment options when therapy failure occurs later on down the road. This approach requires specific planning up front as well as diligent maintenance, including strict adherence to treatment. Sequencing is ideally used in people who have not yet received antiretroviral therapy, but can be effective in treatment-experienced people as well.
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