Most drug treatments are used to control or get rid of an infection. Others deal with specific symptoms caused by an infection (for example, controlling pain). You may be taking anti-HIV drugs like AZT or ddI, as well as drugs to prevent or fight other infections. At some point, you may find that you’re taking a lot of different drugs. Many drugs can cause unwanted side effects.
Sometimes these side effects can be just like the symptoms of an infection (for example, fever or chills). And drugs can interact (react with each other) in ways that may either hurt you or make the drugs work less well. Your doctor may have to adjust your medications from time to time.
New drugs are constantly being developed. Some of the drugs listed in this chapter are still being studied and may not be available yet. But remember, treatment information is changing all the time.