The availability of HAART since 1996 has had a dramatic effect on the face of HIV AIDS. HAART is a customized combination of different classes of medications that a physician prescribes based on such factors as the patient’s viral load, CD4⁺ lymphocyte count, and clinical symptoms. CD4⁺ lymphocytes are white blood cells that HIV infects and kills, leading to a weakened immune system and AIDS. Though not a cure, HAART controls viral load, helping to delay the onset of symptoms and achieve prolonged survival in people diagnosed with HIV/AIDS.

With HAART the medical implications that HIV has have been changed. New diagnoses of HIV-associated infections and some neurological complications, such as HIV dementia, have decreased since its introduction. Other neurological problems associated with long term use of this therapy include nerve damage. HAART is reported to have an effect to increase lipid (fat) levels in the blood, changed glucose metabolism and other complications.

Interactions with HAART and other medications used in the treatment of addiction may hurt both treatments. For example, methadone blood concentration drops as a result of the components in HAART therapy. There is currently research to determineif buprenorphine which is a treatment for opioid addictions has similar problems.

One issue for people treated with HAART is sticking to the medication regimen which is needed to benefit from HAART. Staying to the regimen can be hard for drug user’s lifestyles, due to their chaotic life styles. In addition, because HAART reduces viral load, some patients mistakenly believe that they do not need to adhere to the HIV treatment regimen or that reduced viral load means elimination of the risk of transmission of HIV/AIDS. This idea can lead to a resuming of old high risk behaviors, including use of dirty needles and unsafe sex. NIDAsupported research has helped to improve HIV outcomes among IDUs and has advanced new discoveries and approaches for treating medical consequences resulting from living longer with the disease.

Tags: AIDS, HAART, HIV, HIV medication, HIV Treatment

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