Learn About HIV/AIDS
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a chronic, potentially life-threatening condition caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). There’s no cure, but there are medications that can dramatically slow disease progression making it a treatable, manageable disease.
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus)
HIV can also be spread sexually, by contact with infected blood, or from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding. It can take years before HIV weakens your immune system to the point of AIDS.
AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome)
A chronic, potentially life-threatening condition caused by HIV. By damaging your immune system, HIV interferes with your body’s ability to fight the organisms that cause disease.
HIV/AIDS Symptoms
Primary Infection
The majority of people infected with HIV develop a flu-like illness within a month or two after the virus enters the body. This illness, known as primary or acute HIV infection, may last for a few weeks.
Clinical Latent Infection
In some people, persistent swelling of lymph nodes occur during clinical latent HIV. Otherwise, there are no specific signs and symptoms. HIV remains in the body, however, and in infected white blood cells.
Early Symptomatic HIV
As the virus continues to multiply and destroy immune cells, you may develop mild infections or chronic signs and symptoms, such as fever, fatigue and swollen lymph nodes – often one of the first signs of HIV infection.
Progression to AIDS
If you receive no treatment for your HIV infection, the disease typically progresses to AIDS in about 10 years. By the time AIDS develops, your immune system has been severely damaged, making you susceptible to opportunistic infections.
HIV/AIDS Medications
The classes of anti-HIV drugs include:
- Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs): NNRTIs disable a protein needed by HIV to make copies of itself. Examples include efavirenz (Sustiva), etravirine (Intelence) and nevirapine (Viramune).
- Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs): NRTIs are faulty versions of building blocks that HIV needs to make copies of itself. Examples include Abacavir (Ziagen), and the combination drugs emtricitabine and tenofovir (Truvada), and lamivudine and zidovudine (Combivir).
- Protease inhibitors (PIs): PIs disable protease, another protein that HIV needs to make copies of itself. Examples include atazanavir (Reyataz), darunavir (Prezista), fosamprenavir (Lexiva) and ritonavir (Norvir).
- Entry or fusion inhibitors: These drugs block HIV’s entry into CD4 cells. Examples include enfuvirtide (Fuzeon) and maraviroc (Selzentry).
- Integrase inhibitors: Raltegravir (Isentress) works by disabling integrase, a protein that HIV uses to insert its genetic material into CD4 cells.
Skyemed, Your Partner Against HIV/AIDS
Skyemed is an ACHC-certified pharmacy that can be a strong partner in your fight against HIV/AIDS. We assist you through each stage of therapy and optimize your specific drug regimen, to give you the best chance of achieving your intended treatment outcomes.
Here is just some of what we do:
- Verify and explain your insurance benefits
- Research financial assistance programs (and enroll if you qualify)
- Educate you on your disease and train you in self-care
- Provide expert side effect management consultations
- Offer on-call pharmacist services
- Free next day delivery (subject to conditions)
- Remind you about refill and drug compliance policies
Financial Assistance
Managing a disease can threaten not just your physical well-being, but your financial life. Learn how we can help ease the burden.
Contact Us Today
1332 North Federal Hwy
Pompano Beach, FL 33062
Hours: 8:00am–6:00pm
Pharmacy Hours: 9:00am-5:30pm
Phone: 866-778-8255
Fax: 800-432-6614
Infusion Fax: 866-398-2988