What is drug resistance?
Not an actual patient
Drug resistance happens when the meds that were once working to control the HIV virus are no longer as effective.
Virologic failureYour viral load may start to rise above undetectable, even though you are taking your meds.
Virologic failure often happens because of drug resistance.
How you can help avoid drug resistance
To lower the chance of virologic failure and drug resistance, it is vital that the level of meds in your body stay where it needs to be to keep your viral load undetectable. When you take your HIV meds as your doctor tells you, you are helping to keep the amount of meds in your body at an effective level:

Still, if you miss a dose of any of your HIV meds, the amount of meds in your body may dip. When med levels go down, your risk of resistance goes up:
