If you have been newly diagnosed with HIV, your doctor needs to know about any symptoms you have. This way, they can monitor, treat them, or check for co-occurring illnesses. 

If you are already on treatment, your doctor will want to determine if your symptoms are due to the medications you’re taking or a sign of an HIV-associated illness.

Certain medical conditions may limit your treatment options. It’s vital you share this information with your care team.

Having certain drug allergies may limit your treatment options. Sharing this information with your care team lessens the chance of being given an HIV treatment that will elicit an adverse reaction.

Certain prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, supplements, and herbal remedies (like St. John’s wort) can interact with HIV medications. It is also possible that HIV drugs you’ve taken in the past will affect how well other HIV drugs of the same class will work in the future. This is why it’s crucial to provide your healthcare provider with your complete drug and supplement history.

Certain risk factors can influence your long-term health if you have HIV, either by increasing your risk of HIV-associated illnesses (like pneumonia or liver disease) or by interfering with your ability to take your drugs as prescribed. By discussing these with your healthcare provider, you can find ways to address and overcome them.

HIV drugs require a high level of adherence. Staying consistent with your prescription helps keep the virus fully suppressed and ensures that you don’t develop early drug resistance, causing your medication to become ineffective. 

Even if you are not yet on treatment, identifying potential barriers to adherence can help your doctor select the drugs best suited for you. They can also offer tips to help you better stick to your medication routine.

Although some current HIV drugs are more “forgiving,” allowing you to miss the occasional dose without concern, missing frequent doses or taking a break from treatment can lead to premature drug resistance. The problem with this is that it can extend to other drugs of the same class, causing multidrug resistance. By being honest with your healthcare provider about your treatment habits, you can find ways to either improve adherence or decide if another treatment is needed.

People who understand HIV and how to take their medications correctly stand a better chance of achieving and sustaining complete viral suppression. (This means the virus is undetectable in blood tests and untransmittable to others.) If there is something you don’t know, it is important that you speak with your healthcare provider, if only for your peace of mind. There are no silly questions.

HIV affects more than just your physical health. It can also take a toll on your mental health, affecting your ability to care for yourself and stay consistent with your treatment. 

According to a review published in the journal AIDS, roughly 36% of people living with HIV experience major depression, while 15.8% have generalized anxiety disorder. Discussing how you feel emotionally is just as important as describing your physical symptoms. This way, your doctor can connect you to a qualified mental health professional.