Effects of therapy

5 Long-Term Benefits of Therapy – David Hoy and Associates

Thank you to Anne Floyd and Rob Winkler and for authoring this article! It speaks to the value of Mental Fitness and how to Nurture your Mental Health.

In a society that is often focused on material things, it’s easy to justify spending that improves our attractiveness. We have a natural incentive to care about what we look like: physical appearance is emphasized as the end-all be-all virtually everywhere we get our media. We buy gym memberships to look a certain way, as though mirroring the physical perfection we see in the media will magically make us happy. Going to the gym is also seen as the main route to “getting healthy” – and improving psychological health is not emphasized in the same way. Why?

Likely, the reason why psychological health is deemphasized is because improving it isn’t seen to have the same effect on our appearance as the gym. However, even the claim that therapy doesn’t impact our appearance can be contested: research has shown that our mental health affects how others perceive our physical appearance – and whether they want to befriend us (Rosenblatt & Greenberg, 1988; Chancellor, Layous, Margolis, & Lyubomirsky, 2017). Another (perhaps less superficial) argument for the importance of therapy is the buoyancy effect. Therapy helps us through difficult times, which are inevitable given that life is unpredictable, often strange, and frequently painful. As a protective factor, therapy can help smooth the bumps in the road – as well as make a good thing even better. Intrigued but not yet convinced? Read 5 reasons how therapy positively impacts long-term psychological health.

1. Therapy can help you learn life-long coping skills.

Great, you’re thinking, but what exactly are coping skills? Coping skills are anything that helps you through difficult times, whether it’s not getting the promotion you deserve, anxiety about driving, or the death of a loved one. Therapists are educated and trained to help foster the natural coping skills everyone has. Coping skills will look a little different from person to person because everyone is unique. For example, I’m a writer, so I like to journal my thoughts as a way of coping – but someone else might find aromatherapy and bubble baths to be more relaxing. We’re all different, and that’s okay – but it also means that there is no “one size fits all” coping skill.

Therapists can also teach coping skills that might not be as innate. For example, cognitive behavioral therapists will often teach their clients that what they say to themselves has enormous influence on how they feel & how others respond to them. Attachment-focused therapists might ask their clients to think differently about how they interact with people in their lives. Person-centered therapists encourage their clients to treat themselves with unconditional positive regard and practice radical self-acceptance. Regardless of the modality of therapy, the idea is to bolster your personal strengths – often using evidence-based practices the therapist has taught you. Psychologist Rob Winkler agrees, asserting that “better coping leads to better responses and better responses lead to better experiences, which create more opportunity and prosperity in all aspects of our lives. ” So while it may not seem as exciting as getting six-pack abs, learning coping skills improves your life exponentially in the long-run.

2. Therapy can change how you interact with people in your life – in a good way.

Sometimes we’re not aware of just how many ways we’re negatively impacting our relationships. We might snap and call our partner names when we’re mad and then forget about it after the fight, not realizing the effect that it has on our partner. On the other side of things, maybe we’re so used to keeping our feelings bottled inside that we have a hard time being assertive with the people we love. A therapist can help balance the way we communicate with our loved ones to improve our relationships. For example, for a client who has a hard time being assertive, a DBT therapist might teach the “Dear Man” skill. In a nutshell, “Dear Man” is a skill that helps a client describe what they want and advocate for themselves in a non-judgmental way.

It can also be useful to hear another person’s input on the important relationships in your life. Are you getting what you want out of your partner – do they make you feel fulfilled? Are your expectations reasonable, or do you think that your partner should be your everything? Or maybe you’re doing everything “right” but there are still ways you could make your connection stronger. A therapist, especially a therapist specialized in family and relationship counseling, can give you the tools and support you need to make changes that will positively impact your relationships. Increasing the positivity of your relationships builds to a more fruitful long-term future – because when it comes down to it, life is about having fulfilling relationships with the people you love and being able to successfully navigate relationships with people you don’t.

3. Therapy can make you feel happier.

True happiness is an elusive thing, and many times people chase the external – money, success, a fancy car – to try to achieve it. Even though it’s an old cliché, there’s truth to the statement that money can’t buy you happiness. Having too little money can cause unhappiness, but money doesn’t have an inherent value that makes our lives more fulfilled. Buying fancy things might give us a temporary thrill or a sense of satisfaction; however, these feelings don’t last and tend to scratch at the surface of true happiness. No one has ever claimed, for example, that the meaning of life is a car; the meaning of life is thought to have more breadth and importance than that.

So how does therapy help you feel happier on a deeper level? Talking over your past, present, and future with a therapist can lead to greater self-understanding. While self-understanding doesn’t always imply self-acceptance, it is the first step towards truly embracing who you are at the core. A related concept is self-compassion. Greater self-compassion helps you handle the bumps in the road that inevitably happen in life without getting stuck in a mire of negativity. Therapists, especially person-centered therapists, often emphasize self-acceptance and self-compassion – and talk us through techniques for increasing both. Learning self-compassion in therapy has tangible benefits: High self-compassion has been found to lead to more health-promoting behaviors (Sirois, Hirsch, & Kitner, 2015), nurture well-being (Neely, Schallert, Mohammed, Roberts, & Chen, 2009), increase empathy and altruism (Neff & Pommier, 2012), and provide a buffer against anxiety (Neff, Kirkpatrick, & Rude, 2007).

4. Through its link to happiness, therapy leads to more productivity.

In The Happiness Advantage, Shawn Achor explains how positive emotions lead to greater productivity: “Happiness gives us a real chemical edge…How? Positive emotions flood our brains with dopamine and serotonin, chemicals that not only make us feel good, but dial up the learning centers of our brains to higher levels” (44). In other words, feeling positive emotions allows you to work harder and learn more because of the “feel good” chemicals in your brain. While productivity isn’t everything, most of us have too much to do and not enough time to do it, especially those of us with demanding jobs or those of us with kids. Increasing your levels of happiness—and with it, your productivity—not only helps you in your career but also helps you cope with the messiness and hectic pace of life.

Therapy can also help you discover obstacles blocking you from performing at your best. These types of road blocks (e.g., perfectionism or overthinking) are challenges a therapist can help you work through to find an effective solution. You and your therapist can also discuss time-management skills and whether changing negative long-term habits—such as poor prioritization or inaccurate assessments—could help with your focus and productivity. These types of changes can lead to long-term benefits such as increased work performance, greater feelings of self-efficacy, and improved relationships. For more information, check out Shawn Achor’s TED Talk “The happy secret to better work.”

5. Therapy can help improve chronic stress.

The ways that therapy can improve long-term stress are numerous. A therapist can teach you methods of calming your body and mind, which might include techniques such as guided visualization, progressive muscle relaxation, and deep breathing. Therapists can also help problem-solve the sources of your stress and teach you stress-reduction techniques. They can introduce you to new concepts such as radical acceptance – that many things in your life are beyond your control and acceptance is the key to reducing your suffering. Best of all, once you learn these techniques, you carry them with you into the rest of your life. In other words, stress relief in the short-term can build into long-term patterns of stress management.

Crucially, a therapist can also be a sounding board who listens to you talk about your life and validates your feelings. This isn’t the same thing as agreeing with you and supporting your every decision, but it can be more valuable – because it nurtures the idea that you’re important, your feelings are worth listening to, and you’re understood. Social support has been shown to be essential for mental health, and, perhaps as importantly, lacking in situations where mental health issues are present. In both the short- and long-term, social support soothes the mind and improves health– as evidenced by numerous studies (Berkman, 1995; Cohen and Janicki-Deverts, 2009; Umberson and Montez, 2010). In short, therapists are effective social support, and feeling supported leads to greater psychological health.

I hope that this blog is an invitation to reexamine how we consider therapy in a wider context. Our culture is ready to accept going to the gym as a way to improve physical health; why not embrace therapy as a way of improving psychological health? Think of therapy as a method of self-improvement, a life-affirming way to make positive changes instead of stagnating. Therapy is not about fixing something that is broken: instead, it is about embracing what we have in order to reach our full, prosperous potential as human beings.

References:

Achor, S. (2010). The Happiness Advantage. New York City, New York: Penguin Random House.

Berkman, L.F. (1995). “The Role of Social Relations in Health Promotion.” Psychosomatic Medicine 57, 245-54.

Chancellor, J., Layous, K., Margolis, S., & Lyubormirsky, S. (2017). “Clustering by Well-Being in Workplace Social Networks: Homophily and Social Contagion. ” Emotion 17(8), 1166-1180.

Cohen, S., & Janicki-Deverts, D. (2009). “Can We Improve Our Physical Health by Altering our Social Networks?” Perspectives on Psychological Science 4 , 375-78.

Neely, M.E., Schallert, D.L., Mohammed, S.S., Roberts, R.M., & Chen, Y. (2009). “Self-Kindness when Facing Stress: The Role of Self-Compassion, Goal Regulation, and Support in College Students’ Well-Being.” Motiv Emot 33, 88-97.

Neff, K.D., Kirkpatrick, K.L., Rude, S.S. (2007). “Self-Compassion and Adaptive Psychological Functioning.” Jounral of Research in Personality 41, 139-154.

Neff, K.D., & Pommier, E. (2012). “The Relationship between Self-Compassion and Other-Focused Concern among College Undergraduates, Community Adults, and Practicing Meditators.” Self and Identity, 1-17.

Rosenblatt, A., & Greenberg, J. (1988). “Depression and Interpersonal Attraction: The Role of Perceived Similarity.” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 55, 112-119.

Sirois, F.M., Hirsch, J.K., & Kitner, R. (2015). “Self-Compassion, Affect, and Health-Promoting Behaviors.” Health Psychology 34(6), 661-669.

Umberson, D., & Montez, J.K. (2010). “Social Relationships and Health: A Flashpoint for Health Policy.” Journal of Health and Social Behavior 51, S54-66.

Benefits of Therapy for Yourself, Family, and Relationships

Wondering if therapy is right for you? You’re not alone.

Seeking help from a mental health expert is something many people consider, especially when:

facing a significant crisis
dealing with an extended period of anxiety or depression
coping with a major life transition
dealing with complicated family dynamics
grappling with problems in a relationship
trying to manage addiction or substance abuse
wanting to make changes for better mental and emotional health

Regardless of your reason, therapy offers a broad array of benefits for all of us. Here are six types of therapy and the benefits of each.

Talk therapy (aka psychotherapy) is a tool used by:

psychiatrists
psychologists
therapists

Talk therapy encourages open and honest dialogue about issues that cause you distress. Through your relationship with your therapist, you’ll work to identify and understand how these stressors are impacting your life, plus develop strategies to manage the symptoms.

If you’re still on the fence about the benefits of talk therapy, consider this: About 75 percent of people who participate in talk therapy experience some benefit, according to the American Psychological Association.

What can talk therapy help with?

Focused on communication, talk therapy allows you discuss concerns that range from stress management and relationship problems to depression and anxiety disorders.

Psychotherapy is a tool that therapists also use to facilitate counseling sessions. They can use this technique for individual, group, couples, or family therapy.

In the case of individual therapy, the relationship between you and your therapist — which is fostered through talk therapy — is key to your success.

Individual therapy gives you a safe space to explore your thoughts, feelings, and concerns.

Unlike couples, family, or group therapy, individual therapy focuses solely on you. This allows for a deeper understanding of the issues and more time for developing coping strategies to help you handle difficult situations.

The goal of individual therapy is to inspire change and improve the quality of life through self-awareness and self-exploration.

Being in therapy can also:

help improve communication skills
help you feel empowered
empower you to develop fresh insights about your life
learn how to make healthier choices
develop coping strategies to manage distress

When families face hurdles that seem a bit too high to conquer on their own, they may seek help from a family therapist. According to the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, a therapist can:

evaluate and treat mental and emotional disorders
evaluate and treat behavioral problems
address relationship issues within the context of the family system

Unlike individual therapy, treatment isn’t just for one person — even if that’s the only member of the family working with the therapist. Instead, the focus is on the set of relationships that make up the family unit.

Some of the most notable benefits of family therapy include:

improving communication skills
providing help treating mental health concerns that impact the family unit (such as substance abuse, depression, or trauma)
offering collaboration among family members
developing individual coping strategies
identifying ways to find healthy support

Think couples therapy is only for people having problems? Think again!

Marriage and family therapists are the first to say that couples therapy is an effective way to keep a relationship on track before it goes off the rails. But if the strains are real and communicating is almost impossible, going to therapy allows couples to meet with a neutral party.

One of the foundational goals of couples therapy is learning how to improve interpersonal dynamics. A 2016 research review suggest that couples therapy is an effective treatment when a couple is experiencing individual and relational distress.

Couples seek therapy for a variety of reasons. Some of the more common benefits cited by couples include:

improving communication skills
resolving conflict
restoring lost trust
increasing shared support
restoring intimacy
learning how to support each other through difficult times
forming a stronger bond

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a blend of two other therapies: behavioral and cognitive.

Therapists use this technique to treat many conditions, including:

anxiety disorders
bipolar disorder
depression
eating disorders
substance abuse and addiction
obsessive-compulsive disorder
phobias
post-traumatic stress disorder

In CBT, your therapist will guide the sessions with an emphasis on the important role of thinking in how you feel and what you do.

In terms of effectiveness, CBT has proven successful as a treatment option on its own or as a supplemental therapy to medication for several mental health conditions, including:

anxiety disorders
bipolar disorder
depression

A 2017 research review found that CBT has a positive impact for people living with bipolar disorder by:

reducing depression levels
reducing the severity of mania
decreasing the relapse rate or how often people experience mania and depression
increasing psychosocial functioning, which means improving abilities and experiences in day-to-day activities and relationships

A 2015 review reports that CBT is the most consistently supported psychotherapeutic option for treating anxiety disorders.

The way we seek help is changing as more providers move to online platforms. Just the idea of having options is one of the benefits of online therapy, or teletherapy.

Not only does this allow you to meet with a therapist from wherever you might be, it also gives you the freedom to choose the delivery method of that therapy. In other words, you can reach a therapist from your phone, an app, or online.

This may make it easier for you to find a counselor you connect and communicate well with.

The ability to get help for mental health this way means more people have access to therapy than ever before. It also helps minimize the stigma attached to mental health, and it gives you options.

If you’re worried about online therapy not being as effective as the in-person kind, consider the results from this small 2014 study. Researchers found that internet-based treatment for depression was equally beneficial as face-to-face therapy.

While over-the-phone and online therapy may not work for everyone in all situations, it’s an option to try.

Just as there are options to speak with a therapist over the phone, voice chat, and online, there are:

tips to find the right therapist for you
ways to find affordable therapy
tools to find resources and care near you, such as the NAMI HelpLine and Healthline’s FindCare

If you’re looking into therapy, another place to start is by talking with a general physician about getting a referral.

Online therapy options

Read our review of the best online therapy options to find the right fit for you.

Working with a psychologist, therapist, or counselor in a therapeutic relationship gives you an opportunity to explore your thoughts, feelings, and patterns of behavior.

It can also help you learn new coping skills and techniques to better manage daily stressors and symptoms associated with your diagnosis.

Benefits of counseling

Explore thoughts, feelings, and worries without judgment.
Develop coping strategies for different situations.
Practice self-reflection and awareness.
Work on habits you’d like to change.
Improve, understand, and communicate about relationships.

90,000 Side effects of therapy for HIV infection.

Every antiviral drug can have side effects, but the same applies to absolutely any drug. Everything is very individual, and if you see a long list of side effects in the instructions for the drug, this does not mean that you will definitely have at least one of them. Some do not experience any side effects from therapy, others experience them in a mild form that does not complicate life, for someone the side effects can be severe. nine0003

The key to dealing with potential side effects is to know what to expect and have a plan in place if any side effect occurs. If you are going to take a drug that has even a small chance of dangerous side effects, you should know in advance the symptoms that you need to look out for. It is also possible to reduce symptoms with specific preventive actions. Discuss the possible risks associated with the drugs with your doctor before starting therapy. nine0003

Sexuality

Women may react differently to a variety of drugs than men. It is still not entirely clear why this happens. It is possible that this is due to the difference in body weight or in sex hormones. Be that as it may, women need the latest information about side effects in women.

What to watch and what to do?

When people first start taking antiviral therapy, they usually get worse, not better. This is normal and should not be feared. The vast majority of side effects disappear after 4-6 weeks after the start of therapy. This period is necessary for the body to adapt to new drugs. Before this happens, people may experience headaches, muscle pain, dizziness, and nausea. Once the body gets used to it, these side effects should disappear. nine0003

It is necessary to learn to recognize undesirable actions as soon as they appear. You can adapt to most of the side effects. In other cases, side effects may be a signal to seek medical attention. After starting therapy, tell your doctor about any reactions that are unusual for you. If possible, try to talk to people who have taken the same drug. It is possible that they have encountered the same problem and have already found a solution.

Everything seems difficult at first

It is very common for people to mistake symptoms of anxiety, stress and depression as side effects. Take care of yourself as a WHOLE, including your emotions, your thoughts about health, and your HIV strategy, so that you can reduce negative feelings and their consequences.

The period of addiction to drugs can be made easier and more relaxed. Try to unload your schedule in advance and do not plan serious matters and a large amount of work for this time. If you usually have too many things to do, ask someone to help you with housework or babysitting. nine0003

At this time, your health should come first. Try to get more sleep and rest. Eat properly, taking into account possible nausea or diarrhea. Try to get some exercise every day - at least go for a walk.

During this period, you will especially need the support of family, friends, or self-help groups. If you can, tell them about what is happening to you. Sometimes just talking helps, but you may also be given a good idea to relieve side effects that your doctor didn't even mention. nine0003

Something about switching ART drugs

Sometimes people experience really serious side effects that may make them want to switch to another regimen, even if their drugs are well controlled HIV .

Changing a drug solely for side effects will also allow the drug to be "saving" for the future in case the current combination fails. Moreover, the side effects you are experiencing now may not be repeated if you try this medicine in the future. nine0003

However, it should be remembered that it is very dangerous to simply stop taking this or that drug. It is also dangerous to reduce the dose of a medicine without consulting your doctor. This may lead to the development of resistance to this drug, and possibly to other drugs in this class.

Side by side with the "side effects" of HAART

Side effects are very common after starting antiviral therapy , but after a few weeks they decrease or disappear altogether. Sometimes they can last for the duration of the combination, but even then they can be minimized and many people decide to continue taking therapy despite symptoms. nine0003

Most drug-related symptoms are similar to illnesses people have dealt with before, such as hormonal imbalances, pregnancy, depression, or HIV infection itself. Whatever bothers a person, it is very important to discuss it with a doctor and diagnose the cause of the ailment.

Recommendations for dealing with the most common side effects:

Chronic Fatigue

We all feel tired from time to time, but if the fatigue continues all the time, regardless of the circumstances, then this is a medical problem. If ignored, it can get worse. nine0003

Symptoms of fatigue may be physical. For example, difficulty getting up in the morning or walking up stairs. They may be psychological. For example, the inability to concentrate on something. Chronic fatigue can have many possible causes that are not always immediately diagnosed.

The first step in dealing with chronic fatigue is to recognize it. If you feel constantly tired, ask yourself: How quickly do you get tired? Is it difficult for you to do something that you had no problems with a couple of months ago? Is it easy for you to concentrate on something? Are you sleeping normally? The more information you give your doctor about your physical and psychological condition, the easier it will be to find a remedy for your condition. nine0003

Recommendations

Try to go to bed and get up at the same time. Changes in sleep patterns can cause fatigue.
Try to exercise at least a little physically. This will reduce stress and help you feel stronger.
Buy plenty of prepared foods to save yourself the hassle of cooking.

Anemia

Anemia is the loss of red blood cells. With anemia, the tissues of the body lack oxygen, which causes a feeling of fatigue and loss of strength. In women, a symptom of anemia may be a violation of the monthly cycle. In some cases, anemia is dangerous to health. Most people with HIV are anemic at some point in their lives. nine0003

Sometimes the cause is the HIV infection itself, other times some antiviral drugs, such as retrovir, can cause anemia.

In order to diagnose anemia in time, it is necessary to monitor the number of red cells. Dietary changes and special nutritional supplements reduce the risk of anemia. There are also special medicines for its treatment. In the worst cases, it is necessary to stop taking the drugs and change the combination.

Recommendations

Check your red blood cell (hemoglobin) count regularly.
Fish, meat and poultry are rich in iron and vitamin B-12. Both of them reduce the risk of anemia.
Spinach, lettuce, asparagus, green peas are rich in folic acid, which is also useful in preventing anemia.

Headache

The main cause of headaches is stress, which we can all experience. However, some medications, including antivirals, can cause it. There are many medicines for headaches. In addition, it can be reduced by reducing stress. nine0003

Recommendations

Try to relax in a dark and quiet room, close your eyes.
Put a cold compress on your eyes, gently massage your cheekbones, take a hot bath.
To prevent a headache, try to find out what can trigger it. Avoid foods that can trigger it, especially caffeine (found in coffee, tea, and cola), chocolate, wine, citrus fruits, food additives, cheese, onions, and vinegar.

Nausea and vomiting

Some of the antiviral drugs have the potential to cause nausea in some people. If you have vomiting, especially if it has become chronic, then you should urgently contact your doctor, especially since it can interfere with taking medications.

Recommendations

Include bananas, rice, apple juice and toasted bread in your diet.
Leave some dry crackers or crispbread next to your bed. Before you get up, eat a couple and sit in bed for a while. This will help fight morning sickness. nine0064
Try mint, chamomile or ginger tea. They can soothe the stomach.
Avoid hot, spicy, strong-smelling and greasy foods.
Talk to your doctor about anti-nausea medications.

Diarrhea

Chronic diarrhea can lead to dehydration, so try to drink as much fluid as possible and eat well. There are many very good drugs for diarrhea. If your medications can cause it, talk to your doctor about prescribing these medications beforehand. nine0003

Recommendations

Eat plenty of bananas, cooked rice, apple juice, cereals and bread (non-grain) - this is a great home remedy for diarrhea.
Avoid foods with insoluble fiber, such as fruits and vegetables with skins. They can make diarrhea worse.
Try to avoid fatty or very sweet foods.
Take calcium (500 mg twice a day).
Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. nine0064

Dry mouth

Dry mouth may occur with certain medications. The main treatment in this case is drinking plenty of water and, if possible, avoiding sugary foods and caffeine. Sugar free gummies are a good way to overcome dryness. If this does not help, you should consult your doctor about prescribing special medications.

Recommendations

Rinse your mouth regularly with warm water.
Ask your doctor for mouthwash or special medicines.

Rash

For unknown reasons, the rash is more severe in women taking antivirals than in men. Rash usually occurs in people taking nevirapine or nelfinavir. It is very important to monitor the condition of the skin, especially after the appointment of a new drug, and immediately consult a doctor in case of any symptoms. nine0003

Recommendations

If possible, replace soap with other cleansers, use a neutral, unscented soap.
Avoid unnecessary baths and showers, they irritate the skin.
Try not to sunbathe and avoid the sun's ultraviolet light, which can worsen the rash.
Get some skin-softening rash medicine in advance and keep it handy.

5.2. Manifestation of side effects while taking HAART

To effectively treat HIV infection, you need to take drugs (highly active antiretroviral therapy - HAART) in accordance with the prescribed regimen. The success of therapy directly depends on compliance with the recommendations of the doctor: the regularity of taking medications, dosage and continuity of treatment. If a person constantly takes HAART, then there is a sufficient concentration of drugs in his blood that suppresses the virus and prevents it from multiplying.

HIV medicines help keep the virus under control, but they can have other effects on the body. The resulting adverse reactions of the body are called side effects. Often people are afraid to start therapy just because of the possible side effects, even despite the risk of HIV progression. Currently, a sufficient number of modern effective drugs have been developed, and among them it is always possible to choose the treatment regimen in which the side effect will be minimized or absent altogether. nine0003

Sometimes, at the stage of addiction to a new drug, a person may experience short-term side effects: diarrhea, nausea, fatigue, restless sleep, which, as a rule, disappear after a few weeks. Long-term side effects on the background of HAART are observed infrequently.

Some women may experience menstrual irregularities such as irregular periods, heavy bleeding and weight loss while taking antiretroviral drugs. In this situation, doctors recommend that you undergo a complete examination for the presence of other diseases, try to review the diet, and also consult about taking other drugs besides HAART. In most cases, you can find the cause, prescribe treatment, and deal with the problem. nine0003

Some people with HIV may experience weight loss. This happens when the body receives less nutrients than it consumes. The reasons for this can be different: increased metabolism (the body needs time to adjust to taking HAART), the presence of intestinal infections, lack of appetite and poor health.

People with HIV who are on therapy are encouraged to monitor their condition and report any side effects to their doctor. If the side effect seriously affects the quality of life, you should consult a doctor with a request to choose another, more optimal regimen for taking the drugs. In the absence of objections from the specialist and other reasons preventing a change in the regimen, the drug that causes side effects is replaced with another one with a similar effect. Unfortunately, it is sometimes difficult to determine which drug in the regimen is causing side effects, so the procedure sometimes has to be repeated several times. On the recommendation of the attending physician, they first replace one drug, observe for 2-3 months and, if there is no improvement, replace another, etc. nine0003

Some drugs from HAART regimens can have side effects that affect performance, perseverance and concentration, therefore, when choosing drugs, it is important to take into account the professional activity of a person, especially those types that are associated with special working conditions or require increased concentration. In such cases, it is recommended to inform the doctor about your work and choose initially such an HAART regimen, against which side effects will not affect performance.

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