Certified Medication Aide- HIV-AIDS Detailed Summary

*HIV-AIDS Meds* What is the purpose of HIV-AIDS meds? answer--to hold off the onset of AIDS What is one of the most important risk factors involved with HIV-AIDS meds? answer--Patient is at *RISK FOR INFECTION* What is HAART (aka ART) answer--antiretroviral therapy -treat retroviruses (stop RNA from transcipting to DNA) -*not a cure* -helps prevent virus replication Describe the HIV-AIDS cocktail answer--HIV-AIDS patients are often prescribed 3 meds from 2 different classes to prevent viral resistance. What are the main reasons for HIV-AIDS treatment to fail? answer-1. high cost (over $20,000 a year) 2. serious adverse side effects 3. patient might develop viral resistance 4. People might forget to take them. What two lab tests are always checked for patients taking HIV-AIDS meds? answer-1. CD4 T-cells (won't drop if meds are working) 2. Viral load (amount of HIV in blood won't rise if meds are working) What is Retrovir? (AZT/zidovudine) answer--NRTI -antiretroviral What routes is retrovir available? answer--PO -IV What is retrovir indicated for? answer--Active HIV -prevents HIV transmission to fetus How does an expecting mom with HIV take retrovir? answer--PO form from 14-36 weeks pregnant -IV during labor *reduces fetal risk of transmission to less than 2%* (25% risk if untreated) Action of retrovir answer--prevents replicatioin of some retroviruses including HIV *not given alone- given in cocktail to prevent resistance* Adverse reactions of retrovir answer--Nausea -Vomiting