Please see our Side Effects of HIV Treatment (General Information) page for fact sheets and other background information on side effects.

Please also see our other web pages for more detailed information on particular side effects, including: Anemia and HIV; Bone Problems and HIV; Diarrhea, Digestive Problems, and HIV; Facial Wasting, Fat Loss, and HIV; Fatigue, Sleep Problems, and HIV; Lipodystrophy and HIV; Mitochondrial Toxicity and HIV; Nausea and HIV; Neuropathy (Nerve Damage) and HIV; and Pain Management, HIV, and Hepatitis C.

Selected Recent Articles

• Rate of Tivicay’s Central Nervous System Side Effects Is Greater Than in Trials.  (December 2016, Poz)
• No evidence that contaminated nelfinavir led to increased risk of birth abnormalities or cancer.  (October 2016, AIDSmap)
• Is Bone Density Loss on PrEP Higher Than Previously Believed?  (September 2016, Poz)
• Kidney and Bone Markers Improve in Patients With Renal Impairment After Switch from TDF to TAF.  (August 2016, TheBodyPro)
• New State Law Requires Insurers to Cover Lipodystrophy Treatment.  (August 2016, Poz)
• Slow But Steady Increase in Kidney Risk Observed With TDF, Atazanavir, Lopinavir.  (August 2016, TheBodyPro)
• Efavirenz appears to be associated with elevated suicide risk in START trial.  (August 2016, AIDSmap)
• Bone loss partially recovers after stopping PrEP, twice-yearly kidney monitoring is enough for most.  (July 2016, AIDSmap)
• Starting Treatment With First-Line Protease Inhibitors May Increase Kidney Disease Risk.  (July 2016, TheBodyPro)
• Switching from tenofovir DF to TAF improves bone and kidney safety.  (July 2016, AIDSmap)
• New Tenofovir Easy on the Kidneys.  (June 2016, Medpage Today)
• Sustiva (Efavirenz) Linked With Rare, Severe Liver Toxicities in South Africa.  (June 2016, Poz); related coverage from AIDSmap and Healio
• Rare but severe liver side-effects reported among South African patients starting efavirenz-based ART.  (May 2016, AIDSmap)
• In Option B+, side-effects and needing time to think are key reasons for not taking HIV medication.  (May 2016, AIDSmap)
• Serious kidney problems are rare with PrEP, but increase with older age and better adherence.  (April 2016, Project Inform)
• Switching to regimen with new form of tenofovir (TAF) improves kidney and bone health markers.  (April 2016, Project Inform)
• START study shows that people starting HIV treatment earlier have better quality of life.  (March 2016, AIDSmap)
• NIH-funded study finds effect of PrEP on bone density is reversible.  (February 2016, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases); related coverage from AIDSmap, Beta Blog, Healio, and Poz
• Tenofovir treatment raises the risk of broken bones. (February 2016, AIDSmap)
• Truvada as PrEP against HIV leads to modest decline in kidney function (Poz); related coverage from AIDSmap, Beta Blog, and in CROI abstract 1 and abstract 2
• ‘Start-up syndrome’ affects some Truvada users for short period.  (January 2016, Healio)
• Antiretrovirals may increase risk for ESLD, HCC in patients with HIV.  (January 2016, Healio)
• Short- or Medium-Term PrEP Is Safer Than Aspirin.  (January 2016, Poz)
• HIV Meds Can Cause Cumulative Reduction in Kidney Function.  (December 2015, Poz)
• First TAF-based HIV regimen simplifies treatment, reduces toxicity.  (December 2015, Healio)
• Starting HIV Treatment Earlier Translates to More Bone Loss.  (November 2015, Poz)
• Does Truvada as PrEP Stunt Bone Growth in Young Men?  (October 2015, Poz)
• START sub-study shows more bone loss with earlier HIV treatment.  (October 2015, AIDSmap)
• NRTIs safe, effective in pediatric HIV patients.  (October 2015, Healio)
• Tenofovir alafenamide single-tablet regimen shows good efficacy with improved kidney and bone safety.  (October 2015, AIDSmap)
• Abacavir/lamivudine could be driving liver damage in ART-treated patients with HIV/HCV co-infection.  (October 2015, AIDSmap)
• Bone loss slows, but continues long-term in HIV-positive people on antiretroviral therapy.  (September 2015, AIDSmap)
• U.S. Pharma Accused of Delaying FDA Adverse Event Reports.  (July 2015, Hepmag)
• Switching to new tenofovir alafenamide keeps virus in check and improves kidney and bone health.  (July 2015, AIDSmap)
• New HIV Med Doravirine Has Half of Sustiva’s Side Effect Rate.  (July 2015, Poz)
• Lower daily tenofovir dose of 150 mg safe and effective in people with moderate renal impairment.  (May 2015, AIDSmap)
• Truvada as PrEP Leads to Small Initial Decrease in Bone Density.  (April 2015, Poz)
• New form of tenofovir TAF looks to be easier on bone and kidney health to the current TDF.  (March 2015, Project Inform.
• Using raltegravir or protease inhibitors influences about equal levels of fat gains.  (March 2015, Project Inform)
• Several HIV Meds Steadily Raise Kidney Disease Risk Over Time.  (March 2015, Poz)
• Fat, Lean Mass Grows With Raltegravir and Protease Inhibitors.  (February 2015, MedPage Today)
• Exposure to antiretrovirals and development of chronic kidney disease – D:A:D Study Group.  (February 2015, NATAP)
• Tenofovir alafenamide equally effective but safer for kidneys and bones than current formulation.  (February 2015, AIDSmap)
• Tenofovir, boosted atazanavir and boosted lopinavir are associated with cumulative risk of developing chronic kidney disease.  (February 2015, AIDSmap)
• Suicide not associated with efavirenz use in the D:A:D cohort study.  (November-December 2014, HIV Treatment Bulletin)
• Lower CNS Side Effects, Similar Efficacy for Doravirine Vs. Sustiva.  (November 2014, Poz)
• Long-Term Tenofovir Use Associated With Higher Rates of Kidney Problems.  (November 2014, TheBodyPro)
• Efavirenz compromises hormonal contraceptive implant.  (November 2014, AIDSmap)
• Some Oral Birth Control May Be Safe with HIV Meds.  (October 2014, Poz)
• People With HIV and Kidney Problems Should Avoid Viread (Tenofovir)  (October 2014, Poz)
• Cardiovascular Disease Indicators Not Higher Among HIV-Positive People on Long-Term Treatment.  (October 2014, TheBody)
• Tenofovir Tied to Kidney Damage in Those With Low Body Weight.  (September 2014, Poz)
• No difference in overall anaemia rate with reduced dose AZT. (August 2014, HIV i-Base)
• Many People With HIV Could Switch to Newer, Safer Regimens.  (July 2014, Poz)
• Protease inhibitor therapy increases underlying genetic risk of diabetes for women with HIV.  (July 2014, AIDSmap)
• Docs Target Trendy Diet Supplements in New Liver Injury Guidelines. (June 2014, Hepmag)
• New Kidney Risk Score System May Guide HIV Med Choices.  (April 2014, Poz)
• Risk score can help predict which people living with HIV have highest risk of kidney disease during tenofovir treatment.  (March 2014, AIDSmap)
• Heart attack link to abacavir persists in D:A:D study.  (March 2014, AIDSmap)
• Stopping TDF Before Renal Impairment Boosts Chance of Improving eGFR. (March 2014, NATAP)
• PI Regimens Tied to Cerebral Small Vessel Disease – and CSVD Tied to HAND. (March 2014, NATAP)
• Vitamin D/Calcium Supplements Reduce Bone Loss by 50% When Starting EFV/TDF/FTC. (March 2014, NATAP)
• Calcium and High-Dose Vitamin D Supplements Cut Bone Loss by Half. (March 2014, Beta Blog)
• Newborns Exposed to TDF in Utero Have Lower Bone Mineral Content in U.S.  (March 2014, NATAP)
• Sustiva Raises Suicide Risk, But Absolute Risk Is Still Low.  (November 2013, Poz)
• Future HIV care will include both novel antiretroviral drugs and new treatment strategies.  (October 2013, AIDSmap)
• Does efavirenz use raise the risk of suicide in people with HIV?  (October 2013, AIDSmap)
• Switching from Atripla to Eviplera reduces central nervous system side-effects.  (September 2013, AIDSmap)
• Genetic testing lowers risk of nevirapine skin rash.  (July 2013, AIDSmap)
• A Sustiva Trip? The HIV Med and LSD are Fellow Hallucinogens.  (July 2013, Poz)
• Lower-dose lopinavir/ritonavir reduces side-effects, maintains viral control in Thai children.  (July 2013, AIDSmap)
• Steroid Injections Mixed With PIs Threaten Cortisol Levels.  (July 2013, Poz)
• Almost three-quarters of people starting HIV therapy in Tanzania have dyslipidemia after three years of treatment.  (March 2013, AIDSmap)
• Complications of HIV and its treatment, Impressions from the 20th CROI.  (March 2013, NATAP)
• The Kidney at CROI 2013.  (March 2013, NATAP)
• Lower Baseline CD4 is Associated with Greater Loss of Bone Mineral Density after ART Initiation.  (March 2013, NATAP)
• Long-Term Efavirenz Linked to Worse Neurocognitive Function in US CHARTER Group.  (March 2013, NATAP)
• Tenofovir, atazanavir/ritonavir and Kaletra associated with kidney problems in patients taking HIV therapy.  (February 2013, AIDSmap)
• Tenofovir May Raise Risk of Kidney Damage, but Effect Tapers Over Time.  (February 2013, Poz)
• Pregnancy does not increase risk of nevirapine side-effects.  (February 2013, AIDSmap)
• Tenofovir impairs enzyme that stops cells ageing.  (January 2013, AIDSmap)
• Large study shows the hepatic safety of HIV therapy.  (January 2013, AIDSmap)
• Treatment with raltegravir increases the risk of mild muscular side-effects.  (January 2013, AIDSmap)
• Protease Inhibitors During First Trimester Raise Risk of Premature Births.  (January 2013, Poz)
• FDA Approves First Drug to Treat Diarrhea in People With HIV.  (January 2013, Poz)