Dr. Gallant said the long-term effect of this nonadherence is resistance to the entire class of protease inhibitors, and a growing number of patients who are untreatable. To counter the problem, he said drugs should be developed that are easier to take, and patients should be offered simpler alternative regimens. According to Dr. Gallant, physicians need to be more careful in selecting more individualized drug regimens. Those who are not expert in this disease don't know of the variety of different regimens that are equally efficacious but vary in terms of tolerability and convenience. He said physicians also need to make sure the patient is informed, and believes in the drugs and the principle of the therapy.
Compliance needs to be constantly talked about and reinforced.