Some examples of short-term side effects include:

• Diarrhea
• Feeling sick to your stomach (nausea)
• Throwing up (vomiting)
• Rashes
• Feeling tired (fatigue)
• Dizziness
• Weight loss

There are additional side effects that you may not notice right away. These side effects develop over a longer period of time and are called long-term side effects. While you may not notice these side effects, it is important to your long-term health to keep an eye on them. Your healthcare provider can perform blood tests and other tests to monitor these long-term side effects. These side effects may include:

• Changes in your cholesterol levels
• Changes in blood sugar levels
• Kidney problems
• Bone problems
• Changes in body shape

What You Should Know About Your Side Effects

There are a number of ways that you can cope with the side effects of your HIV medications. Here are just a few general tips:

• Know the side effects—know the side effects of your meds and have a plan in place to deal with them
• Talk to your healthcare provider—your healthcare provider can make you aware of any potential side effects of a new medication, what to look for, and what you can do about them
• Allow your body time to adjust to the new medication—often the short-term side effects, such as dizziness or upset stomach, are normal reactions that last 4 to 6 weeks as your body gets used to the drug
• Monitor the types and seriousness of side effects—if you notice anything out of the ordinary after starting a drug, report the side effects to your healthcare provider immediately. In rare instances, some HIV medicines can cause life-threatening side effects

See Tips for Coping With Side Effects for additional information on how to cope with specific side effects.

Don't Keep Your Side Effects to Yourself

The most important thing you can do about any side effects that you may be experiencing is to share them with your healthcare provider. Some symptoms may be due to HIV and not your medications. Therefore, it is important to make sure that you let your healthcare provider know what is going on.

If the problems that you are experiencing are side effects due to your HIV medication, there are things that your healthcare provider can do to help, including give you tips for coping with side effects and, in extreme situations, switching medications.

Remember the most important thing you can do for your health is to work with your healthcare provider and take your HIV medication each and every day! If the side effects are causing you problems, it is still important to continue to take your medications every day until you and your healthcare provider decide on how to resolve the problem.