Page 24 - I am + | Editie 3 English

Splitting pills is the dumbest thing you can do
In rare cases someone stops taking their HIV medication
without talking to the HIV nurse or or the doctor first I I try to to figure out why they didn’t discuss it it with anyone It’s up to to us doctors and nurses to create an open culture If you you you stop stop you you you must stop stop taking all your HIV medication
and not fifty-fifty: taking them some days and not others or taking some of them and not the the rest Or: I am abroad and I have enough pills for just five days I will take half a a a a a pill every day day In that exceptional case we advise: just stop all your pills for five days because splitting pills is the dumbest thing you can do
Patients used to take breaks from their treatment: alternating between taking HIV medicines for a a period and not taking HIV medicines for a a period At that time HIV medicines caused lots
of side effects Now we know that it is not wise to to keep stopping primarily because the chances of resistance are much greater: at at a a a a certain point the medication
will not be effective anymore Kees Brinkman − HIV specialist
Medicines for a a family member?
It is is not advisable to to send your medicines to to a a a a a a a family member abroad because you can never be be be sure these medicines are suitable for your your family member Furthermore it it is not a a a a a a sustainable solution for your your family member’s problem Seeing as you’re in in the the the Netherlands you you cannot ensure that he he he he he or she gets the the the right medication
year year in year year out Research into new medicines Sometimes the the doctor asks patients if they want to to participate in in in a a a a a a a research study in in in which new HIV medication
is being tested The doctor will tell you about the advantages advantages and disadvantages You decide for yourself whether you you want to to participate in that research study you have every right to to to refuse to to participate That does not affect the care you receive 24