Instead, it's important to choose a combo you can stick to and afford. That may also mean taking drug side effects into account. For example, Norvir often causes nausea and can upset the stomach, and might make routine morning sickness that much worse. Taking Crixivan can cause high bilirubin levels in infants. So far, there have been no problems treating the condition, Squires says, so there's no need to switch if a woman is on a Crix-containing regimen that's working.
Experts emphasize that the bottom line is viral control.
That can be a real challenge for women who've developed resistance and are on their second or third regimen. It's also important to make a postdelivery treatment plan. Some women's adherance drops dramatically after pregnancy. It's better to stop all drugs than to let motherhood and the rest of life interfere with meds. There's also the risk of transmission during breast-feeding, so discuss your concerns with your doctor.