Early start of treatment. The immune system is usually still healthy in the earlier stages of the disease, which can make anti-HIV drug therapy more effective. In addition, early therapy gives the virus less chance to develop a wide range of mutations that may be resistant to therapy. Hit hard, hit early. When treatment includes three or more drugs at a time, the virus is attacked in several different ways.
Reproduction is reduced more by several drugs taken together.
Another benefit of combination therapy is delaying, and sometimes reversing, the development of resistance. Adherence to anti-HIV treatment means filling every prescription and taking every medication as prescribed and on time. It's probably the most important strategy of all, because it's the one that you can control. Because adherence is so important, the last section will be devoted to this issue. This site is intended for US residents only.