Managing Symptoms and Side Effects

Symptoms and side effects are common with HIV. They can be due to HIV infection itself, to co-infection or opportunistic infection, or to HAART. It is important to discuss with your doctor any symptoms you are experiencing, as they may indicate an underlying problem that requires medical treatment. Likewise, make sure you discuss with your healthcare team any side effects you experience—particularly those from anti-HIV drugs—because managing side effects is an important part of staying on your therapy. There are many ways to help you. This section of the guide provides dietary strategies for managing the most common symptoms or side effects.