What are Combination Therapies?
Combination therapies involve using different drugs at the same time to treat infectious diseases. By targeting the infection in multiple ways, they increase effectiveness, lower the chance of resistance, and improve patient outcomes. Common examples include HIV treatment with multiple antiretrovirals or tuberculosis therapy with several antibiotics.
This treatment helps to:
- Increase effectiveness compared to single-drug therapy
- Reduce the risk of drug resistance
- Control complex or chronic infections like HIV or TB
- Shorten treatment duration in some cases
- Improve long-term patient outcomes
What to expect during treatment?
Patients may take multiple medications daily, sometimes for long periods.
- Better infection control and symptom relief
- Possible mild side effects such as nausea or fatigue
- Careful monitoring to adjust doses and manage interactions
- Regular follow-ups to ensure treatment success
