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.
Hi J, please can you say which country you are writing from as in 2019 I haven’t heard of any countries where HIV meds are not available.
I can perhaps help with practical suggestions for how you can access lower cost generic medicines.
Also, roughly how long have you known that you are HIV positive. If you have results from any CD4 or viral load tests, it would help me to know the first results when you were diagnosed and the most recent results.
Hi All,
My status has now advanced to HIV / AIDS. From the past 2 weeks, I’ve been experiencing shortness of breath, fever, headache, with lots of phlegm/ mucus on my lungs.
Unfortunately, I live for now in a country where ARV/ ART is not accessible.
Please advise, if there’s still a chance to increase my CD4 count and lowered my VL ,
I’m planning to go back in my home country on April where I can possibly access easily ART/ARV.
Thanks folks.
Hi Sally,
Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. But it’s good to hear you are very healthy.
However, once people test HIV positive they will always test HIV positive.
Unfortunately HIV can break down the immune system over time. That means you can become at risk of other infections.
Have you thought about starting HIV treatment (ART)?
Here’s an Introduction to ART. There’s a lot of info here that explains how ART works and how it benefits health over time.
Hi,am Sally,I got hiv in 2013,I got sick for a week,from there hav never bin sick again,am gaining weight each n every time,very healthy that’s,have never taken medics of hiv,m totally ok,bt I went for atest in October 2018, n was still positive, with one line of test paper partial red,what cud I be? Pliz speak to me over this.
Hi Penelope,
It’s great that you’ve started taking HIV meds. How is it going? Do you have access to your CD4 count and viral load results?
But unfortunately we are not doctors at i-Base. So if you have symptoms like this please talk to your doctor.
Hi please help, I’ve been taking my meds for six months now, the problem is when I have sex after a day the are pimples coming out on top and both side outside of my Virginia it’s painful, but my urine is not hot and the is no bad smell or discharge
Hi Hope,
Its good to hear that your viral load is undetectable, this means that your HIV is under control. What’s your CD4 count history?
I am undetectable but my CD4 count is 228 why is it dropping when I am taking my ART and what can I do to increase my CD4
Hi Zoliswa,
If your viral load is undetectable, then yes. Please see here: http://i-base.info/u-equals-u/
Can I have sex with my husband without a condom while I’m on arv’s while he’s hiv negative?