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HIV: READY TO START TREATMENT

People featured are compensated by Gilead.

HIV: READY TO START TREATMENT

If you’ve been diagnosed with HIV, your next step starts with a conversation with your healthcare provider to start on treatment and stay on track to live a longer, healthier life with HIV.

READY TO START TREATMENT

People featured are compensated by Gilead.

WOMAN 1: When it comes to creating the future I want...I realized—it starts with me.

MAN 1: I’m human. My circumstances don’t change that.

MAN 2: And neither does the fact that I’m living with HIV. I’m ready.

WOMAN 1: Ready to talk to my healthcare provider.

MAN 2: Ready to start my HIV treatment.

MAN 1: Ready to stay on track with the support of my healthcare team.

MAN 2: To get the care that I need so I can be there for the people in my life.

WOMAN 1: Knowing that if I start and stick to HIV treatment as prescribed, I can live a longer and healthier life with the ones that I love.

MAN 1: The first step starts with me.

WOMAN 1: And me.

MAN 2: And me.

MAN 1: So start a conversation with your healthcare provider to find out more about your treatment options today.

WOMAN 1: And learn more at HelpStopTheVirus.com.

hiv_treatment_truth_video

People featured are compensated by Gilead.

HIV: Treatment Truth

Even today, there can be a lot of misinformation and stigma surrounding HIV. But you can help make a change by educating yourself and others on the real facts about HIV treatments.

HIV: Treatment Truth

People featured are compensated by Gilead.

The world’s understanding of HIV can be outdated and clouded by stigma…but yours doesn’t have to be. Whether you’ve just been diagnosed with HIV or have been on treatment for a while—know this: HIV treatment has come a long way.

Today’s treatments are effective, and some could be started the same day as diagnosis. Work with your provider to learn more about the different treatment options. Your provider can help you find one that helps you manage your HIV and achieve treatment goals. Because a longer, healthier life is possible by starting and staying on an effective treatment.

Have you been diagnosed with HIV and wondering, “What now?” Take charge by starting a conversation with a healthcare provider today. Find helpful information and resources at HelpStopTheVirus.com

video-image

People featured are compensated by Gilead.

U=U

Current research shows that taking HIV treatment as prescribed and getting to an undetectable viral load and staying undetectable prevents transmitting HIV to others through sex. “Undetectable” means there is so little virus in the blood that a lab test can’t measure it. Another way to say that is U=U (undetectable=untransmittable).

U=U

People featured are compensated by Gilead.

WOMAN: If you’ve been diagnosed with HIV, you may not be sure what to expect. Over time, you’ll learn more about what it means to live with HIV. Want to know one of the most important things to learn about? When taking HIV treatment as prescribed, U equals U is possible. U equals U. That stands for “Undetectable equals untransmittable.” Being undetectable means there’s so little HIV in the blood that it can’t be measured by a laboratory test. It’s scientifically proven. Research shows that a person living with HIV who gets to and stays undetectable by taking treatment as prescribed can prevent transmitting HIV to their sexual partners. So, as long as you get to and stay undetectable, you can’t pass HIV through sex.

U equals U is an empowering concept—it can help keep you motivated to stay on treatment and can offer you the chance to approach sex and relationships without the fear of transmission. After all, U equals U isn’t just about your health. It’s about your partners’, too. Now and in the future. And it’s not just about you. Understanding U equals U is valuable for everyone, regardless of your status. Learning about the benefits of HIV treatment can help play a role in reducing stigma within our communities. Ask your healthcare provider about U equals U and what it can mean for you.

start treatment

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HIV Treatment: Understanding Rapid Start

Healthcare providers recommend starting treatment right away—or even as soon as the same day you’re diagnosed. You may hear this called “rapid start” or “rapid treatment initiation.” The sooner you start treatment, the sooner you can reach undetectable, which means there is so little virus in the blood that a lab test can’t measure it.

HIV Treatment: Understanding Rapid Start

People featured are compensated by Gilead.

RAPID START

Today, effective treatment for HIV is available to you shortly after diagnosis. In fact, there are options that can even be started the same day as you are diagnosed. You may hear this called “rapid start” or “rapid treatment initiation.” Talking to your healthcare provider is the first step to getting you on treatment.

As our understanding of HIV evolved, healthcare providers understood that it was better to start treatment as soon as possible. Some of today’s treatments may be able to be started right away. Today’s treatments can be simple to take and effective. With treatment, people living with HIV can live longer, healthier lives. And research says the best thing to do is start treatment as soon as possible. The sooner you start treatment, the sooner you can work toward your treatment goals. The sooner you are on treatment, the sooner you can reduce the amount of virus in your body, thereby helping restore your immune system.

Learn about other important health benefits and how you can live a longer, healthier life on HIV treatment. Talk to your healthcare provider about the importance of starting treatment as soon as possible. Learn about the benefits of starting treatment at HelpStopTheVirus.com.

Getting back on hiv treatment

People featured are compensated by Gilead.

GETTING BACK ON HIV TREATMENT

Even if you have stopped HIV treatment, the good news is, getting back on track is possible. The first step to restarting treatment is talking with someone on your healthcare team. Watch the video to learn more.

GETTING BACK ON HIV TREATMENT

People featured are compensated by Gilead.

If you have stopped your HIV treatment, you are not alone. 1 in 4 people living with HIV have reported pausing or stopping HIV treatment at some point. The good news? Getting back on track is possible, and the best time to start the conversation is as soon as you can.

Whether you still have a few questions or are ready to get back on treatment, talking to someone on your healthcare team is the right place to start. It could be your healthcare provider, a social worker, a case manager, or another member of your support team. Whether it’s been a few months or longer since you last took medication to manage your HIV, you and your healthcare provider can work together to develop a plan to help you stay on treatment and engaged in care.

It’s also important to be open about why you stopped, whether it was due to things like difficulties with mental health, substance use, stigma, or if the reasons were related to your treatment, such as side effects, pill size, the number of pills, or trouble fitting treatment into your routine. If you remember the name of the medicine you were taking before you stopped, that information can also be helpful. By sharing these details with your healthcare provider, they can help you choose a treatment that better suits your needs and discuss strategies for staying on treatment.

No matter why you stopped, what’s important is that you get back on HIV treatment as soon as possible. The sooner you are back on treatment, the sooner you can reduce the amount of virus in your body, helping to restore your immune system. Taking HIV medicine as prescribed can help you reach an undetectable viral load. Undetectable means the amount of HIV in your blood is so low it can’t be measured by lab tests, and according to research, when you achieve and maintain an undetectable viral load, you can’t pass the virus to anyone else through sex.

When you’re ready to get back on and stick to HIV treatment, a longer, healthier life is waiting for you. Talk to your healthcare provider or a member of your healthcare team about restarting treatment today. Learn more at HelpStopTheVirus.com.

understanding

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HIV Treatment: Understanding HIV Resistance

HIV can change over time, and if it does, it can affect how well some HIV treatments work. This is called “HIV drug resistance,” or sometimes you may hear it simply called “resistance.” Once resistance develops, it can’t be reversed. But there are ways you can help lower the risk of resistance. Watch the video to learn more.

HIV Treatment: Understanding HIV Resistance

People featured are compensated by Gilead.

Did you know that, if given the chance, HIV can change over time, just like most viruses? When it does, that change lasts forever, and it can affect how well certain HIV treatments work. This is called “HIV drug resistance,” or sometimes you will simply hear it called “resistance,” and it’s important to know what that means for your treatment and overall health.

For some people, the virus may already be resistant before they start HIV treatment. Resistance can also happen after you start HIV treatment if there isn’t enough medicine in your body to stop the virus from multiplying. Some reasons for less medicine in the body may include missed doses, how other medicines interact with your HIV treatment, or even how your body processes the treatment.

There are ways you can help lower the risk of resistance. Remember to take your treatment as prescribed. It’s also helpful to talk to your healthcare provider about your treatment’s barrier to resistance. Talk to your doctor about the concept of resistance, including what a barrier to resistance means. You and your healthcare provider are a team. They can help you stay informed and stay on track with your treatment so you can aim for a healthier tomorrow. To learn more about how to help prevent resistance, talk to your healthcare provider. Learn more at HelpStopTheVirus.com.

hiv_treatment_shared_decision_making_video

People featured are compensated by Gilead.

HIV TREATMENT: SHARED DECISION-MAKING

Working together with your healthcare provider is key to finding a treatment that’s right for you. In this video, healthcare providers share what’s important to them in their partnership with the people they treat.

SHARED DECISION-MAKING

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Shared decision-making is a way for you and your healthcare provider to work to make decisions about your HIV care that are right for you.

We asked a few healthcare providers what’s important to them in the relationship they have with the people they treat.

DALLAS GREEN, PA: Involving the patient in making a decision for a treatment plan is very important. I like to ask my patients, “What are your goals out of treatment? What do you want your treatment to look like?

ORLANDO HARRIS, NP, PhD: If we’re in a situation where something is not optimal or something is not right, I want to create the space so you, as a patient, you’re empowered to actually have that conversation with me.

HADRIAN HOLDER, MD: Ultimately, I want them to be undetectable and dealing with their diagnosis enough that they can advocate for themselves.

MARTHA PATRICIA RODRIGUEZ, PA: Hi, hello. I’m going to be your HIV provider. Together, we’re going to select an HIV regimen. I just want to explain to you that this is teamwork. It’s not just my work or your work. We’re a team. I’m going to ask you some questions that they might sound funny or intrusive, but I want to know what you do for a living, I want to know a little bit of your schedule, if you have to take care of other family members, if you have transportation issues, because that is very important for me in order to choose something.

MARTHA PATRICIA RODRIGUEZ, PA: I don’t want this to be a condition that they look in the mirror and they see HIV. I want they look themself in a mirror and be themselves, and if they want to go to school, if they want to start a family, if they want to relocate, like, I don’t want this to be like something that makes them not fulfill their dreams.

education video

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EDUCATING MYSELF ON HIV TREATMENT

Adrena was concerned about HIV medication side effects. What would happen? How would they impact her life? What she discovered may not be what you expect. Watch the video to hear Adrena’s HIV story.

EDUCATING MYSELF ON HIV TREATMENT

People featured are compensated by Gilead.

ADRENA: I understand that, you know, you would be afraid of side effects. I was, too.

I just, I didn’t know.

If you have any questions, concerns, talk to your doctor.

Educate yourself about the medication. And then maybe you’ll feel better about it.

You take care of yourself, your body will take care of you. That’s just how I feel about it.

Because you have a longer ... a longer life to live.

talking to your healthcare

People featured are compensated by Gilead.

TALKING TO YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER

Greg didn’t know HIV medications were a thing until his doctor asked if he was ready to start. Hear what happened when he and his doctor talked about how HIV is treated and how Greg felt when he left his appointment.

TALKING TO YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER

People featured are compensated by Gilead.

GREG: My first doctor was this quirky, older guy who called me when I was in the midst of not speaking to anyone. And he asked, you know, “are you ready for treatment?” And that was a question that I hadn’t dealt with because I didn’t know that treatment was a thing.

And that was weird for me to deal with because it was like, well, now I get to live? And ... um ... he kind of chuckled under his breath, and that was something that, in hindsight, I can see exactly why he did that.

HIV is a disease that you can live a long life with.

He started telling me from, you know, the start, let’s talk about different medications and how those will affect you. And here’s how to have a healthy life.

I walked into the doctor’s office very scared and sad. And I left ... like I was in charge of myself again.

starting hiv treatment again

People featured are compensated by Gilead.

STARTING HIV TREATMENT AGAIN

Whatever your reason may have been for stopping your HIV treatment, you can always start again. We asked healthcare providers to share what they would like people to know about restarting treatment. Watch the video to learn more.

STARTING HIV TREATMENT AGAIN

People featured are compensated by Gilead.

STARTING HIV TREATMENT AGAIN

Sometimes life can get in the way of treatment. We asked some healthcare providers what they want people to know when they’re coming back to HIV care.

MARTHA PATRICIA RODRIGUEZ, PA: Hi. Welcome back to the clinic. I miss you. This visit we call the reopen visit. It’s not to make you feel uncomfortable. I want that you go home today with your HIV regimen. That way, we put you back on track as soon as possible.

HADRIAN HOLDER, MD: One thing when you’re doing a restart is try to get an understanding of why this happened is the first step before you do anything.

DALLAS GREEN, PA: Understanding what a patient has been doing while they’ve been out of care can give a provider some insight as to what regimen to place somebody on.

DALLAS GREEN, PA: What’s happened in the past has happened. Let’s move forward. I’m glad you’re back into care. Let’s work towards staying in care so that your immune function can be preserved and give them that hope or, better so, the vision.

People featured are compensated by Gilead.

Considering Changing your HIV Treatment?

Have you ever considered changing your HIV treatment? We asked some healthcare providers what they think about when talking about this topic with the people they treat.

Considering Changing your HIV Treatment?

People featured are compensated by Gilead.

Conversations about changing treatment are common.
We asked some healthcare providers what they think about when discussing this topic with the people they see.

DALLAS GREEN, PA: I can’t tell you the amount of times that I’ve had a new patient come to me, but no one’s taken the time to sit down, discuss with them, and say, “Hey, you know, I think you can update your HIV regimen here.”

HADRIAN HOLDER, MD: Switching medications can be a very challenging thing for a patient. It’s important to make sure the patient understands the switch recommendation. We’re trying to give people, you know, hopefully the knowledge to make the decision for themself and understand why you as their provider are trying to make the best decision for them.

DALLAS GREEN, PA: I always try to have a conversation over multiple visits. How do you feel about your regimen? I think there’s an opportunity here to improve your regimen. And hearing their concerns and answering their questions gives them the confidence that the decision we make in the end is going to be one that’s made between both of us.

DALLAS GREEN, PA: I use the analogy of a car. It will still get you from point A to B, but you might not have AC in the car, the seats might not be very comfortable, but it still works. Well, that might be the same as your regimen. Your regimen might still work, but we can improve that regimen. You can get some AC. You can have comfortable seats, get to A to B.