These results are similar to those from other studies, and highlight the continued importance of medication adherence. It is important to recognize that medication adherence is not an inborn trait, but is a skill that needs to be learned. Individual patient preferences, such as lifestyle, eating habits, work schedules, and so on, need to be considered when selecting the most appropriate antiretroviral regimen. Furthermore, there are numerous strategies and devices available to enhance medication adherence. Often, a combination of strategies may be more helpful than using a single approach.
Some drug schedules are quite strict in terms of dosing times.
Some medications need to be taken on an empty stomach, which usually means 1 hour before or 2 hours after a full meal. Other drugs have to be taken with food in order to be properly absorbed. The type of food can also be important. Some drugs are best absorbed after a high-fat meal, some with a small snack. With other medications, a lot of fluid intake is required.