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Most of the drugs have side effects. It does not mean that
everyone who takes it will experience side effects. Generally,
you cannot predict if you are likely to experience side effects
or not. Some people only experience side effects mildly and
find it manageable. But for some people the side effects occur
strongly.
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| It can be useful to find out about possible
side effects before you start treatment. The side effects often
gets better after you have been on treatment for a little while,
as the body starts to adjust to the drugs. |
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| Below are some common side effects that
you might experience if you're on HAART: |
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| The symptoms are tiredness, difficulty
getting out of bed or doing the normal things you do. If they
persist, talk to your doctor. |
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| Tips |
- Go to sleep and wake up at the same
time every day
- Exercise; as it eases stress and makes
you feel energetic
- Keep easy to prepare/ ready to eat
food at home when you're too tired to cook
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| Women seem more prone to rashes. Keep an
eye on your skin for any changes in color, itchiness and any
other changes. |
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| Tips |
- Keep lotions like Calamine, moisturizing lotion, olive
oil, on hand as they help to relieve and soothe
- Use mild soaps such as 'Johnson & Johnson' or 'Dove'.
It is also advisable to use soap-free soaps
- Don't take very hot showers as they make the rash worse.
Use lukewarm water
- Don't expose your rash to the sun
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| Feet, toes and hands have sensations of
burning, stinging, stiffness, tickling or numbness. These can
be mild to severe, that you're unable to walk. |
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| Tips |
- Use loose fitting shoes and socks
- Massage your feet
- Walk around a little to get blood circulation going
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| Going to the toilet more than 2 times a
day or every time you eat. The main concern with diarrhea is
dehydration (losing fluid and minerals in your body). |
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| Tips |
- Drink plenty of water. Do not drink cold carbonated drinks
- Eat your regular meals
- Eat foods like oats, soft white bread, or porridge.
- Don't drink dairy milk, eat greasy, spicy or very sweet
food
- Plain yoghurt might help
- Take oral re-hydrating salts
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| Mouth feels dry and makes chewing, swallowing
and talking difficult. It can affect your sense of taste and
can lead to bad breath, tooth decay and thrush (oral yeast infections).
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| Tips |
- Drink plenty of water
- Avoid sugary, sticky or caffeinated drinks
- Chew sugarless gum to stimulate saliva, or suck on sugarless
candies, lozenges or crushed ice to cool and give the mouth
moisture
- Rinse your mouth as often as you can with salt water
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| Caused by tension and can usually be treated
by drugs like Panadol (talk to your doctor before you take these)
and by reducing stress. If you are consulting a doctor, (not
your regular doctor), make sure he/she does not prescribe an
antibiotic /medicine that will interact with your HIV drugs.
Alternatively, you could consult a doctor who knows your status.
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| Tips |
- Close your eyes and rest in a quiet, dark room
- Place a cold cloth over your eyes or use an eye pack
- Massage the base of skull and temples with your thumbs
- Avoid headache-causing foods like coffee, tea, MSG, citrus
fruits like oranges, lemons, etc
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| It's normal to lose around 100 strands
of hair a day. If you notice that you're losing an abnormal
amount, it could be due to the drugs you're taking. |
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| Tips |
- Avoid perm, dyeing, straightening, braiding or hair dryer
- Reduce stress as this can lead to hair loss as well
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| Anemia is low red blood cells. These cells
supply oxygen to your body and when you have anemia it can result
in tiredness (fatigue). |
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| Tips |
- Get your red blood cell count done regularly
- Eat lots of fish, meat, chicken, spinach, asparagus, and
dark leafy greens
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| Feeling of throwing up or actually vomiting.
It can cause loss of fluids in the body and in severe cases,
tearing of the throat. Call your doctor if you vomit throughout
the day or if it interferes with taking your medication. |
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| Tips |
- Eat bananas, rice, toast and whole meal biscuits
- Keep whole meal biscuits by your bedside so you can have
a few in the morning - sit in bed for a few minutes before
getting up
- Drink lemon or green tea to calm the stomach
- Don't drink cold carbonated drinks
- Have some warm limejuice, known to avoid nausea
- Don't eat hot, spicy or greasy food
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| Weight loss is a serious problem and can
result from vomiting, diarrhea, anemia or tiredness (fatigue).
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| Tips |
- Monitor your weight
- If you're losing weight abnormally, talk to your doctor
to find out the cause
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| This is common to most women especially
in women who have weak immune systems. The symptoms are; irregular,
heavier, lighter or painful periods and sometimes women get
menopausal (period stops). |
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| Tips |
- Keep a calendar of the dates you get your period and note
any changes like weight loss or stress - may help you find
out why you're having period problems
- Exercise lightly as it helps increase flow and lessen
period pain
- For cramps, hold a hot water bottle over your stomach
or back. You could also take a hot shower
- Make sure you inform your doctor of any side effects that
you might experience during your next visit
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