Question
How can I increase my CD4 count without ARVs?
8 January 2016. Related: All topics, Newly diagnosed, South Africa, Starting treatment, Supplements and herbs.
I have just found out that I was HIV positive in March, last year. My CD4 count was 270.
I did another test and it was 284 and my doctor said I must start treatment.
I just want to know what I must do to increase my CD4 count without taking treatment.
Answer
Hi, how are you doing?
The only way to increase your CD4 is to use HIV treatment (ART).
Your doctor is giving you good information and advice.
Nothing else, including multivitamins, supplements or herbal remedies can increase your CD4 count. Looking after yourself is important – for example, eating a balanced diet, keeping physically and mentally active, reducing stress, sleeping well etc. But increasing your CD4 count is only proven by using effective HIV meds.
Even though some companies advertise this vitamins and supplements can help your CD4 count, these are scams. There is no such thing as an “immune booster” and no “immune booster” will help your CD4 count or help control HIV.
Why do you want to delay ART or look at other options? HIV meds are really effective – this is what they were designed for.
ART stops HIV from replicating. The main aim is to reduce your viral load to an undetectable level (less than 50 copies/mL). As your viral load goes down, your immune system start to repair itself. This means that your CD4 count will slowly go up to higher levels again.
Currently South Africa recommendation starting treatment when the CD4 count is below 500 cells/mm3. This may change in the future and treatment might be recommended at any CD4 count. (Note: South African later changed to recommends treatment at any CD4 count).
Here is a link to more information about starting treatment. Please take your time reading it and if you have any further questions do write back to me.
Are you receiving any support from other people? Getting support from your local support group or a counsellor can help you to come to terms living with HIV. Also you will be able to gain and share experiences with others who are in the similar situation as you, rather than having to deal with it in isolation.
This answer was updated in January 2019 and January 2016 from a question first posted on 2 March 2012.
I’ve just found out that my boyfriend is HIV positive, and that he’s taking medication. We haven’t been using protection. I’m stressed and losing weight.
Hi Thabang,
How are you coping with your diagnoses? Are you able to get any support?
Two things, your CD4 isn’t low, its high. This is a good thing. Also, just because someone is positive doesn’t mean that they will also have TB. So the information you’ve been given is wrong.
What is right is suggesting that you start treatment. This is because its recommended that everyone who is positive should be on medication. For more about why its seen as being important, please see here:
http://i-base.info/i-base-qa-on-the-start-study-results/
Its common to be worried about starting medication. As to whether you’ll get side effects its not possible to say. It also depends on what ARVs are you take. There’s more about this here:
http://i-base.info/guides/starting
With regards to your question, no you aren’t terminally ill. Its true that there isn’t a cure for HIV. However, ART is excellent, so much so that the life expectancy of someone who is positive equates to that of someone who is negative.
I tested positive HIV on the 27th March 2017. My CD4 count results came back and they were 623 and TB free. My doctor said they don’t understand why my CD4 count was low and I’m TB free so she advised me to start ARV treatment. I went for counselling, I’m about to start treatment… I’m wondering what’s going to happen to me after the side effects, am I going to be terminally ill?
Hi Lee,
If you can tell me which country you live in, I’ll be able to tell you what the options are.
Is there anyway to get medication, beside going to public health care?
Hi Suprith,
As the above post explains, the only thing that can control a persons HIV is ART. Therefore, if you aren’t on ART owing to your CD4 being low its important that you start meds.
If you’re already on meds, then you’re doing the best thing that you can. It’s the meds that will control your HIV and help increase your CD4 count.
My CD4 is 70, what can I do to increase it?
Hi Philisiwe,
If your partner is on medication, this would explain why you keep testing negative. This is because if someone is on medication and has an undetectable viral load the risk of transmission is close to zero. Please see the results of the PARTNER study for more info:
https://i-base.info/qa-on-the-partner-study/
If they aren’t on medication, you’ve basically just been lucky as Q 5 here explains:
https://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions
And just to let you know the procydin that you’re taking won’t be helping you from contracting HIV. Only ARVs can do this.
My name is Philisiwe I’ve been in a relationship with my partner for 6 years. I only found out they had HIV after 5. Evey time I go to the clinic I test negative. I really want at child. I’m only using procydin to prevent HIV.
Hi Akhona,
The only thing that can help control a persons HIV is ARVs. There aren’t any other medications that can do this.