Question
Can a person restart ARVs?
29 October 2018. Related: Adherence, All topics.
I’ve been off meds for 3 months, can I restart?
Answer
Thanks for getting in touch.
The simply answer is yes. Yes, you can restart meds, and its great to hear that you want to.
If its possible you should book an appointment to see your doctor. Ideally they should check your viral load as well as your CD4 count. Depending on where you are your doctor may also run some resistance tests. These are used to make sure that you’re still ok to take the ARVs that you used to take.
Hello Nompumelelo and thanks for getting in touch.
Well done to you for continuing to take ARVs
Why are you scared?
Being on treatment means you will still be undetectable, which is something you should explain to your clinic.
I am sure the doctors and nurses there will be happy to see you return.
Hi my name is nompumelelo it’s been four months since I last went to the clinic bt I still take my ARVs at home by the help of a friend who goes to clinic bt now I want to go and take mine bt I’m scared
Hi Andiswa, what about restarting treatment makes you scared?
Yes but i am scared
Hi Andiswa, it is great that you want to restart. Starting early in the pregnancy will also really help reduce the risk of transmission to baby. Are you able to go back to the clinic where you were getting treatment before you stopped?
Hey , i stopped taking my Arvs and now i want to restart …i’m 4 weeks pregnant , what should i do ?