HIV is treated and managed with medicine called antiretroviral therapy (ART).
There is no cure for HIV. But most people on ART live a long and healthy life.
If you test positive
If you're diagnosed with HIV, you will be referred to a specialist HIV clinic. Your doctor and nurse will explain your treatment options to you.
Treatment will start as soon as possible after diagnosis. This may depend on your situation and on what your doctor thinks is best for you.
Antiretroviral therapy (ART)
HIV is treated with antiretroviral therapy (ART). The medicines stop the virus reproducing in the body. This lets the immune system recover and stops further damage.
HIV treatment usually comes as a combination of medicines.
There are different types of combinations. Many come in 1 tablet, taken once a day.
HIV medicine is also available as an injection. You get this once every 8 weeks. The injectable medicine is not suitable for all types of HIV. Talk to your HIV care team if you want to find out about injections.
Your HIV clinic will discuss your treatment options with you and find the right medicine for you. You will usually take HIV medicine for life.
Antiretroviral therapy for people living with HIV (PDF, 157 KB, 8 pages)
Blood tests
You will have regular blood tests as part of your treatment.
Blood tests will check your:
- viral load - this is the amount of virus in your blood
- CD4 lymphocyte cell count - this shows how HIV has affected your immune system
Measuring the viral load
The viral load is measured to see how well your treatment is working. When the virus can no longer be found in your blood, it's known as undetectable.
Most people will have an undetectable viral load within 6 months of starting treatment.
CD4 lymphocyte cell count
CD4 lymphocyte cells are part of your immune system. They protect your body against infection. HIV attacks and kills CD4 cells.
A CD4 count can help show the health of your immune system.
Taking other medicines with your HIV treatment
Some of the medicines used to treat HIV can interact with other prescription or non-prescription medicines.
Non-prescription medicines include some nasal sprays and inhalers, herbal remedies like St John's wort, as well as some recreational drugs. Check with your HIV care team before taking any other medicines.
HIV treatment is free
HIV medicine and care are free in Ireland under the public health system. Your legal status does not affect this. For example, if you are a refugee or asylum seeker.
Moving to Ireland - hivireland.ie
Where to get treatment
If you test positive for HIV, your GP or STI clinic will refer you to a specialist HIV clinic for treatment.
HIV clinics are located at:
- Cork University Hospital, Cork
- Beaumont Hospital, Dublin
- Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin
- St James’s Hospital, Dublin
- St Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin
- Galway University Hospital, Galway
- Limerick University Hospital, Limerick
- University Hospital Waterford, Waterford
Children get HIV care at:
- Temple St University Hospital, Dublin
- Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Dublin
Treatment and pregnancy
If you are pregnant and find out you have HIV, you need to start treatment as soon as possible. Treatment protects your health and greatly reduces the risk of passing HIV on to your baby.
HIV can pass to a baby during pregnancy, birth or breastfeeding.
If you are on HIV treatment and become pregnant, continue with your treatment. Contact your HIV care team to tell them you are pregnant.
In Ireland, treatment reduces the chance of a baby getting HIV to less than 1 in 1000.