You and your doctor should continue monitoring your viral load on a regular basis to make sure that the HIV drugs are working properly and that the amount of virus in the blood remains below the level of detection or as low as possible.
If your viral load increases while taking HIV drugs, this may mean that drug resistance has occurred. To learn more about resistance and the treatment options that are available if it occurs, click on the following lesson links:
It is important to be careful when watching changes in viral load. This is because the tests are very sensitive and may produce slightly different results. A change must be greater that 3-fold to be real. In other words, an increase from 10,000 to 25,000 may only be due to the sensitivity of the test and not necessarily a true change in viral load.
You should also have your CD4 cell count checked regularly—usually every 3 to 6 months. Additional tests that your health care provider should monitor to ensure that you are not experiencing certain side effects include proteins associated with liver and kidney health, your cholesterol and your blood sugar.
And be sure to discuss with your doctor any problems you are having with your treatment regimen without delay. If you find yourself missing doses or experiencing side effects, you might be able to switch your current regimen for one that is easier to take or associated with fewer side effects. But it is crucial that you do this sooner rather than later.
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