Helping People Restart HIV Care
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, almost
of people diagnosed with HIV were not retained in care* in 2023
*Retention in HIV care defined as ≥2 CD4 count or viral load tests spaced at least 3 months apart during 2023 among people aged 13 years and older with diagnosed HIV in the United States and 6 territories and freely associated states.
According to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), some reasons people with HIV stop seeking HIV care may include fear of HIV stigma or general mistrust of the healthcare system. As an Allied Health Care Professional, you are often the first contact for your clients, and it’s important to provide your clients with support, resources, and encouragement to help them engage and get back in care.
BIKTARVY® May Be an Option for Your Clients Restarting Their HIV Treatment
BIKTARVY is the first and only, once-daily, single pill to receive an additional FDA approval for use in people with HIV restarting treatment, when appropriate.
Encourage your clients to talk to their healthcare provider to see if BIKTARVY is right for them.
Start the Conversation
Empathy and outreach
Help ground your discussion by creating a safe space where your clients can feel comfortable discussing their concerns without fear of judgment or blame.
Identify barriers to treatment
Ask your clients why they may have stopped HIV treatment and encourage them to discuss these issues with their healthcare provider. Ensure that your clients are aware of available support resources.
Support their next step
Encourage your clients to restart HIV treatment and let them know that a healthcare provider can help determine the right treatment option to address their goals.
Resources for You
Resources for you
Here is some information to help familiarize yourself with HIV and how BIKTARVY can help your clients.
CD4, cluster of differentiation 4.
What is BIKTARVY®?
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BIKTARVY is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in adults and children who weigh at least 31 pounds. It can either be used in people who have never taken HIV-1 medicines before, or people who have received HIV-1 medicines in the past, or to replace their current HIV-1 medicines, and whose healthcare provider determines they meet certain requirements.
BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. HIV-1 is the virus that causes AIDS.
What is BIKTARVY
BIKTARVY is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in adults and children who weigh at least 31 pounds. It can either be used in people who have never taken HIV-1 medicines before, or people who have received HIV-1 medicines in the past, or to replace their current HIV-1 medicines, and whose healthcare provider determines they meet certain requirements.
BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. HIV-1 is the virus that causes AIDS.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
What is the most important information I should know about BIKTARVY?
BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects:
- Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV). Your healthcare provider will test you for HBV. If you have both HIV-1 and HBV and stop taking BIKTARVY, your HBV may suddenly get worse. Do not stop taking BIKTARVY without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to monitor your health, and may give you HBV medicine.
Who should not take BIKTARVY?
Do not take BIKTARVY if you take:
- dofetilide
- rifampin
- any other medicines to treat HIV-1
What are the other possible side effects of BIKTARVY?
Serious side effects of BIKTARVY may also include:
- Changes in your immune system. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections that may have been hidden in your body. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new symptoms after you start taking BIKTARVY.
- Kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys. If you develop new or worse kidney problems, they may tell you to stop taking BIKTARVY.
- Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious but rare medical emergency that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded, or a fast or abnormal heartbeat.
- Severe liver problems, which in rare cases can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain.
The most common side effects of BIKTARVY in clinical studies were diarrhea (6%), nausea (6%), and headache (5%). Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that bother you or don’t go away.
What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking BIKTARVY?
- All your health problems. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you have or have had any kidney or liver problems, including hepatitis virus.
- All the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, antacids, laxatives, vitamins, and herbal supplements. BIKTARVY and other medicines may affect each other. Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist, and ask if it is safe to take BIKTARVY with all of your other medicines.
- If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking BIKTARVY.
- If you are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Talk to your healthcare provider about the risks of breastfeeding during treatment with BIKTARVY.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please see Important Facts about BIKTARVY, including important warnings.
What is BIKTARVY
BIKTARVY is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in adults and children who weigh at least 31 pounds. It can either be used in people who have never taken HIV-1 medicines before, or people who have received HIV-1 medicines in the past, or to replace their current HIV-1 medicines, and whose healthcare provider determines they meet certain requirements.
BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. HIV-1 is the virus that causes AIDS.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
What is the most important information I should know about BIKTARVY?
BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects:
- Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV). Your healthcare provider will test you for HBV. If you have both HIV-1 and HBV and stop taking BIKTARVY, your HBV may suddenly get worse. Do not stop taking BIKTARVY without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to monitor your health, and may give you HBV medicine.
Who should not take BIKTARVY?
Do not take BIKTARVY if you take:
- dofetilide
- rifampin
- any other medicines to treat HIV-1
What are the other possible side effects of BIKTARVY?
Serious side effects of BIKTARVY may also include:
- Changes in your immune system. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections that may have been hidden in your body. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new symptoms after you start taking BIKTARVY.
- Kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys. If you develop new or worse kidney problems, they may tell you to stop taking BIKTARVY.
- Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious but rare medical emergency that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded, or a fast or abnormal heartbeat.
- Severe liver problems, which in rare cases can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain.
The most common side effects of BIKTARVY in clinical studies were diarrhea (6%), nausea (6%), and headache (5%). Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that bother you or don’t go away.
What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking BIKTARVY?
- All your health problems. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you have or have had any kidney or liver problems, including hepatitis virus.
- All the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, antacids, laxatives, vitamins, and herbal supplements. BIKTARVY and other medicines may affect each other. Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist, and ask if it is safe to take BIKTARVY with all of your other medicines.
- If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking BIKTARVY.
- If you are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Talk to your healthcare provider about the risks of breastfeeding during treatment with BIKTARVY.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please see Important Facts about BIKTARVY, including important warnings.
What is BIKTARVY
BIKTARVY is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in adults and children who weigh at least 31 pounds. It can either be used in people who have never taken HIV-1 medicines before, or people who have received HIV-1 medicines in the past, or to replace their current HIV-1 medicines, and whose healthcare provider determines they meet certain requirements.
BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. HIV-1 is the virus that causes AIDS.
