What is HIV-1?

Understanding HIV-1

Understanding HIV-1

HIV Positive Model

What is HIV-1?

HIV-1 is the most common type of Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It attacks your body’s immune system. The virus destroys CD4 cells. These cells help your body fight infections. HIV-1 can severely damage your immune system and lead to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

What is HIV-1?
HIV Positive Model

How is it treated?

HIV-1 treatment may reduce the amount of HIV-1 in your blood (called “viral load”). Treatment may also help to increase the number of CD4 cells in your blood. These cells help fight off other infections.

An HIV-1 drug is more likely to be effective when it works at the same time with other HIV-1 drugs. Your treatment can only work if you take your medicines when and how your health care team tells you.

How is HIV-1 Treated?
HIV Positive Model

Goals of Treatment

There are many reasons why people decide to start HIV-1 treatment. You probably have your own personal goals. There are also goals that you and your doctor set together. Two of the most important are:

Lower Your HIV-1 Viral Load to Undetectable
Lower your viral load to undetectable
Reaching and keeping an undetectable viral load is a good sign that your treatment is working.

Even if your viral load is undetectable, that doesn’t mean your HIV-1 is cured. You can still pass on the virus to other people. So it’s important to stay on your treatment and take precautions not to put other people at risk.
HIV-1 Treatment Can Help Slow Down the Virus's Destruction of Your CD4 Cells and Raise Your CD4 Cell Count
Raise your CD4 cell count
When you have HIV-1, the virus uses CD4 cells to make copies of itself and spread through the body. This destroys the CD4 cells in the process. This weakens the immune system and makes it more likely for you to get sick.

HIV-1 treatment can help slow down the virus’s destruction of your CD4 cells. This can help keep you from getting sick.

Some people who take ISENTRESS or ISENTRESS HD develop severe skin reactions and allergic reactions that can be serious, and may be life-threatening or lead to death. If you develop a rash, call your doctor right away. If you develop a rash with any of the following symptoms, stop using ISENTRESS or ISENTRESS HD and call your doctor or get medical help right away: fever; generally ill feeling; extreme tiredness; muscle or joint aches; blisters or sores in mouth; blisters or peeling of skin; redness or swelling of the eyes; swelling of the mouth, lips, or face; problems breathing.

Some people who take ISENTRESS or ISENTRESS HD develop severe skin reactions and allergic reactions that can be serious, and may be life-threatening or lead to death. If you develop a rash, call your doctor right away. If you develop a rash with any of the following symptoms, stop using ISENTRESS or ISENTRESS HD and call your doctor or get medical help right away: fever; generally ill feeling; extreme tiredness; muscle or joint aches; blisters or sores in mouth; blisters or peeling of skin; redness or swelling of the eyes; swelling of the mouth, lips, or face; problems breathing.

Sometimes allergic reactions can affect body organs, such as your liver. Call your doctor right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms of liver problems: yellowing of your skin or whites of your eyes; dark or tea-colored urine; pale-colored stools (bowel movements); nausea or vomiting; loss of appetite; pain, aching, or tenderness on the right side of your stomach area.

Changes in your immune system (Immune Reconstitution Syndrome) can happen when you start taking HIV-1 medicines. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections that have been hidden in your body for a long time. Tell your doctor right away if you start having new symptoms after starting your HIV-1 medicine.

People taking ISENTRESS or ISENTRESS HD may still develop infections or other conditions associated with HIV-1 infections.

The most common side effects of ISENTRESS or ISENTRESS HD include: trouble sleeping, headache, dizziness, nausea, and tiredness. Less common side effects include: depression, hepatitis, genital herpes, herpes zoster including shingles, kidney failure, kidney stones, indigestion or stomach area pain, vomiting, suicidal thoughts and actions, and weakness.

Tell your doctor before you take ISENTRESS or ISENTRESS HD if you have a history of a muscle disorder called rhabdomyolysis or myopathy or increased levels of creatine kinase in your blood.

Tell your doctor right away if you get unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness while taking ISENTRESS or ISENTRESS HD. These may be signs of a rare serious muscle problem that can lead to kidney problems.

These are not all the possible side effects of ISENTRESS or ISENTRESS HD. For more information, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Tell your doctor about all your medical conditions, including if you have any allergies, are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed if you take ISENTRESS or ISENTRESS HD. Women with HIV should not breastfeed because their babies could be infected with HIV through their breast milk.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including, prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Some medicines interact with ISENTRESS or ISENTRESS HD. Do not start taking a new medicine without telling your doctor. Your doctor can tell you if it is safe to take ISENTRESS or ISENTRESS HD with those other medicines.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA.
Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please read the accompanying Patient Information and Instructions for Use for ISENTRESS and ISENTRESS HD and discuss them with your doctor. The physician Prescribing Information also is available.

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