Complementary and Alternative Medicine Among Persons living with HIV in the Era of Combined Antiretroviral Treatment

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), often pursued independent of prescribing clinicians, may interact with traditional treatments, yet CAM use has not been well characterized among people living with HIV (PLWH) in the combined antiretroviral therapy (ART) era. We analyzed data from the Veterans Aging Cohort Study (October 2012–April 2015) to characterize CAM use in PLWH on ART. CAM users were more likely to have lived longer with HIV, report more bothersome symptoms, be prescribed more benzodiazepines and opioids, and consume less nicotine and alcohol. Given its high prevalence, clinicians should routinely assess for CAM use and its impact among PLWH.