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HIV teens: Building a relationship... with your medicines
Taking anti-retroviral medications is a lifelong responsibility. Many HIV positive teens feel there are three things you need to build a strong marriage with your anti-HIV drugs...
Building a relationship... with your medicines
SO youre on ARVs? Taking anti-retroviral medications is a lifelong responsibility. The question is: How can you take on this challenge? The answer is to build a relationship with your medications, almost like a marriage. Many HIV positive teens feel there are three things you need to build a strong marriage with your anti-HIV drugs:
Trust
You must trust that the anti-retrovirals are going to work to help you live a longer, healthier life, if you take them correctly. If you dont know how your anti-HIV medications work to keep you healthy, ask your doctor or nurse. (It is also important to have a doctor you trust!)
You need to believe that the benefit of a healthy life is worth taking the drugs, even though there are going to be good and bad times. There are going to be times when taking your medications will make you feel sick with side effects like stomach aches or nausea. There may be ways your doctor can help you manage these side effects so that you feel better. Trusting that the good that will come from taking your ARVs outweighs the bad is the first step towards building a strong relationship.
Commitment
You must be committed to taking every dose of your medication, every day. (This is called adherence.) You have to realise that there are no holidays or days off from taking your medication. That is why it is so important to choose which drugs to take wisely. When you are planning your drug regimen with your doctor, try to come up with drugs that have dosing schedules, side effect profiles and food requirements that fit in with your lifestyle and daily routine. Then make a commitment to take your pills.
Just like in any relationship, there may be difficulties. You may not want others to know or notice that you are taking pills, especially when you are in school or hanging out with friends. If you are having trouble and find yourself skipping doses, speak to your doctor about the problem. There may be things that can help make your regimen easier to take.
Here are some tips:
- Many HIV positive teens have medication dosing times that are before and after school.
- Tell your doctor what you can or cannot do when it comes to taking your medications. For example, how many times a day you can take medicines and how many pills you can swallow at one dose.
- If you have to carry your medications, use a small and discrete jar or pillbox.
- Try using your cellphone alarm as a reminder to take your ARVs.
Support
Many HIV positive teens feel they could not have made it without the support of friends, family and medical staff. Build a support system that includes regular trips to the doctor for check ups. Things like substance use and depression can get in the way of good adherence. Dont be afraid to ask for help if you are dealing with tough issues.
Once you have trust, commitment and support in place, you are on your way to building a strong marriage with your medications.
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Medical facts verified by Calibre Clinical Consultants.
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