HAART: combination therapy

HAART (Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy) combines three or more drugs from at least two different classes to suppress the replication process of the virus in at least two different ways. Using this method the replication process is slowed down and the rate at which drug resistance can develop is vastly reduced because HIV finds it more difficult to overcome this combined attack.

Every dose, every day: For HAART to be effective, it is important to take every dose of medication as prescribed. Poor adherence to HAART has been shown to result in treatment failure, and faster disease progression. If doses are left out, the virus can replicate faster and the risk of developing drug resistance rises.

Prolonged life: Although HAART is not a cure for HIV, it is a strong and long-lasting therapy to prevent a weakening of the immune system and the development of opportunistic infections.