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How often will you take a protease inhibitor? For how long?
Each of the approved protease inhibitors is taken in a different way. You may take your protease inhibitor two or three times every day, depending on which one you take. It is important to take the protease inhibitor on schedule so the drug will stay at the same level in your body. Taking a "drug holiday" or skipping doses is extremely dangerous. Missing one or more doses can allow the virus to become resistant, meaning the virus changes itself to avoid the medication and keep making copies of itself.
You should take the protease inhibitor for as long as your tests show it is helpful; your doctor will keep track of your progress based on blood tests that you will have on a regular basis. (see How will you know if your protease inhibitor is working? )
Go to the Protease Inhibitors & You Menu
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